Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Thursday said, ''Asia is an anchor for peace and stability and a promising land for cooperation and development, not a battleground for geopolitical competition."

Mao said of the possible opening of a NATO liaison office in Japan next year, ''NATO's continued eastward incursion into the Asia-Pacific and interference in regional affairs will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability and fuel confrontation."

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in this regard, called on other countries in the region to pay special attention to these destabilizing movements.

When asked about the alleged assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin, after a drone was intercepted on Wednesday while flying over the Kremlin, Mao insisted once again that China's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is already well known.

She has asked the parties to avoid taking actions that ''could further aggravate the situation''.