If China would “react badly” to American missile defense what does that say about China’s long term strategy vis-a-vis the United States? And why should we cater to it?
I think the general is alluding to the simple fact that defensive missiles are far more costly than offensive missiles. It takes 3 expensive American ABMs to neutralize a single Cheap Chinese DF-31A
If our intentions are to defend against the handful of North Korean Missiles then the current ABMs on the West Coast will suffice. If we ratchet up those ABM numbers to counter the Chinese ICBM fleet, then they would ratchet up their numbers. This is a race that we can’t really win given current ABM technology and cost structures.