U.S. military officials have assured China they are under no threat from South Korea's decision to deploy a U.S. anti-missile defense system.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to base the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in Seoul. It is intended to destroy possible North Korean missiles.
But the decision has come under fire by state media in China, where there is high concern the system is intended to track Chinese missiles.
U.S. General Mark A. Milley met Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart General Li Zuocheng to discuss the unit's installation, reiterating the U.S. commitment to respect international law. A statement says he "encouraged the Chinese to do the same as a way to reduce regional tensions."
The general's visit is also surrounded by tensions following an international arbitration panel's ruling last month that China could not claim islands in the disputed South China Sea, which have rival claims by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.