China on Thursday indicated its objection to a joint military drill to be held by Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States near the Korean Peninsula.

"China holds that the international community, especially Asia-Pacific countries, should take moves conducive to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, not to the contrary," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular press briefing.

The Naval forces of the three countries will stage a joint drill next Thursday in waters off ROK's southern island of Jeju, which will involve training in search and rescue operations and maritime interdiction operations.