China on Thursday criticized countries involved in the deployment of an anti-missile system in the Asia-Pacific region, singling out a US X-band radar deployment in Kyoto, Japan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that the move damages peace and stability in the region.

She made the comment after media reports said the US military had delivered the X-band radar to the Kyogamisaki military base in Kyoto on Tuesday.

The radar, reportedly used to scan for missile launches from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is expected to start operation before the end of this year.

"Some countries have pushed forward anti-missile system deployment in the Asia-Pacific region to seek unilateral security, which runs against regional stability and mutual trust as well as peace and stability in Northeast Asia," Hua said at a regular news briefing.

"This move causes even more concerns, against the backdrop of the complex and sensitive regional situation," she said.

She called on relevant countries to proceed from the broader picture of regional peace and stability, and to be committed to maintaining regional security through political and diplomatic means.

"Relevant countries should not take (their own security concerns) as excuses for damaging others' security interests," the spokeswoman further noted.