China’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Chinese military will make all necessary preparations to protect national sovereignty and regional peace and stability, when asked about the risk of conflict on the Korean peninsula.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian made the comments at a monthly briefing in Beijing when asked what preparations China was making in case a war breaks out.

Wu also reiterated China’s view that the issue should be resolved via talks, not military means, which he said were not an option to resolve tensions.