21.   But Russia has strongly opposed the U.S. plans, warning that the deployment of such system would offset the strategic balance and make other arms control agreements void.

22.   But Russia dismisses such threats as hypothetical and says the national missile defense would tilt the strategic balance in the U.S. favor.

23.   China and Russia had argued that a missile shield would upset the strategic balance and lead to a new nuclear arms race.

24.   Moscow says changes would upset the strategic balance and launch a new arms race.

25.   Moscow strongly opposes such changes, saying a new anti-missile defense system in the United States would upset the strategic balance.

26.   Moscow has been adamantly opposed to such changes, saying an anti-missile defense system in the United States would upset the strategic balance.

27.   Moscow has been adamantly opposed to such changes, saying that they would upset the strategic balance.

28.   Moscow says a missile defense system in the United States would upset the current strategic balance and launch a new arms race.

29.   Moscow says it would upset the strategic balance and launch a new arms race.

30.   Moscow strongly opposes any changes, saying a missile defense system in the United States would upset the current strategic balance.