China voices oppn to US report on its military development

Hitting back at a Pentagon report that raised concerns over the rapid modernisation of its armed forces, China today said its military development is "justified and normal" and asked the US to respect facts and change its mindset.

The Chinese Defence Ministry expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" with the report, saying it "firmly opposed" its content.

China's "justified and normal military development" has been unfairly depicted in the report and representations have been made to US over the report's content, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said.

China's military development is for the exclusive purpose of safeguarding sovereignty, security and developmental interests, Geng said.

The military development is in line with China's need to deal with multiple security threats, state-run Xinhua quoted him as saying.

China has firmly adhered to a peaceful development path and adopted a defence policy that is wholly defensive in nature, he said, adding that China has always maintained a transparent strategic intent and made efforts to expand military exchanges.

Accusations of a possible Chinese military threat are "wrong and groundless," Geng said.

In trying to find excuses to sell arms to Taiwan, Geng claimed, the US side has been deliberately playing up the imbalance of military power between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan and sowing dissension, irrespective of the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait.

"The Chinese side firmly opposes such moves," said Geng.
He also denied the US accusation of China engaging in cyberattacks against it, saying such remarks are untrue.

Geng said the US' suspicions and efforts to discredit China go against the country's promise to build healthy, stable, reliable and sustainable military ties with China.
He said the US must respect facts, change its mindset and cease issuing similar reports year after year.

Geng added that the US should take concrete actions to promote bilateral military relations.

The US Defence Department issued its annual report "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" on May 18, stating that Chinese military has embarked on ambitious  expansion programme aimed at transforming the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a modern force.

It also said the main goals of the PLA include preserving the rule of  the Communist Party of China and getting ready for hostilities against Taiwan which China claims as its part.