China hits back at Pentagon
22 May 2012 5:35 AM GMT
Hitting back at a Pentagon report that raised concerns over the rapid modernisation of its armed forces, China on Monday 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.
China voices oppn to US report on its military development. 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.
The US Defence Department issued its annual report 'Involving the People's Republic of China' on 18 May, stating that Chinese military has embarked on ambitious expansion programme aimed at transforming the Army into a modern force.
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.
China voices oppn to US report on its military development. 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.
The US Defence Department issued its annual report 'Involving the People's Republic of China' on 18 May, stating that Chinese military has embarked on ambitious expansion programme aimed at transforming the Army into a modern force.
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