China charges against Trump's golden dome project: 'It undermines global stability'
The U.S. president assured that the system will be operational by the end of his term. The cost is estimated at $175 billion when it is completed.
Trump in Qatar/ Brendan Smialowski
China said Wednesday that Donald Trump’s proposed “Gold Dome” missile shield project “undermines global stability,” in its view.
"It undermines the strategic balance and global stability. China expresses serious concern over this. We urge the United States to abandon the development and deployment of a global missile defense system as soon as possible," a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, said at a regular press briefing.
Trump announced the project on Tuesday, after signing an executive order in late January to develop a missile shield inspired by the Israeli model known as Iron Dome.
The system will be operational by the end of his term. It will cost a total of about $175 billion when completed.
Trump said he will deploy next-generation technologies on land, at sea and in space, including sensors and space-based interceptors.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth added that the system is intended to protect the territory "from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether conventional or nuclear."
In 2022, AFP recalled, the U.S. military's latest missile assessment warned of growing threats from Russia and China.
Beijing is catching up with Washington on ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and Moscow is modernizing its intercontinental-range systems, as well as upgrading its precision-guided missiles, the paper said.
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