Russia and China have separately warned Japan over its decision to allow the United States to deploy “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles during joint military exercises in Japan next month, calling the move a threat to regional stability.

“We view this as another destabilising step as part of Washington’s course toward ramping up the potential of ground-based shorter and intermediate-range missiles,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

Deploying Typhon missiles “in regions near Russia poses a direct strategic threat to Russia”, Zakharova said in comments published by the country’s state-run TASS news agency.

Moscow has also taken note of Japan’s moves towards “accelerated militarisation” and cooperation with the US, the spokeswoman said.

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