Full coverage: THAAD Deployment in South Korea

The official newspaper of China's military forces has slammed the recent decision to deploy THAAD - a weapon system designed to shoot down missiles - in South Korea.

An editorial in the PLA Daily says it is the good relations with neighboring countries that can protect South Korea, rather than weapon systems like THAAD.

The editorial says the planned deployment will increase the risks throughout the peninsula, and will break the strategic balance in the region.

The article added that the range of THAAD is far beyond the scope of the Korean peninsula and therefore it is nonsense as Washington and Seoul claim that the system does not target any other country but the DPRK.

The article also says China has no intentions to engage in an arms race, but it will firmly safeguard its own security and interests.