U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton says Washington's willingness to deploy missiles in Asia is about protecting its allies in South Korea and Japan,... saying any deployment would be purely defensive.<br />Bolton's comments on Tuesday came in response to China's protests against U.S. plans to consider deploying conventional, intermediate-range missiles throughout Asia.<br />Beijing threatened Washington with countermeasures if the U.S. deploys missiles on China's doorstep.<br />The recent exchange of heated rhetoric between the U.S. and China has raised concerns about a regional arms race.<br />
