The Chinese Foreign Ministry says that reports on China’s deployment of ballistic missiles near the border with Russia are merely “speculations and crude guesses.”

“Currently, China and Russia share a high-level of comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination, strategic mutual trust between the two states is constantly deepening, the cooperation between the two in various fields strengthens. As for the so-called military presence – this is only speculation and crude guesses, circulated on the Internet,” the ministry said in a statement to RIA Novosti news agency.

On Tuesday, citing reports in “some Hong Kong and Taiwan media,” the Global Times said Beijing deployed advanced Dongfeng-41 ICBMs to Heilongjiang Province, which borders Russia, according to images, possibly leaked to coincide with Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.