China on Monday expressed its "strong dissatisfaction and
resolute opposition" to a report released May 25 by the US Defense
Department on China's military power in 2006.
The report said China’s expenditure in national defense and
high-tech industries has steadily risen over recent years,
accelerating the military transformation of the country. It cites
the increasing military strength of China as a “major factor” in
changing the military balance in South Asia, and says the impact of
China’s strategic military strength stretches even beyond the
Asia-Pacific region.
"The report exaggerates China's military strength and
expenditure with ulterior motives," Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a written statement.
"It disseminates the 'China threat' theory, severely violates
norms of international relations, and wantonly interferes with
China's internal affairs," she said.
"As a peace-loving country," Jiang said, "China sticks to a path
of peaceful development and adopts a defensive national protection
policy.”
She continued, "The international community has a fair judgment
that China is an important force in promoting peace in Asia-Pacific
and the world. It is the responsibility of any sovereign nation to
conduct necessary national defense build-up to safeguard national
security and territorial integrity.”
"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and China
firmly opposes any country that interferes in its internal affairs
through any means,” Jiang went on to say.
"The Chinese government adheres to the principles of peaceful
reunification and 'one country, two systems.' We will show our
utmost sincerity and do our best in seeking peaceful reunification
of the motherland but we will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence'
and allow any secessionist activities.”
"We urge the United States to adhere to the one-China policy and
the three joint communiques, oppose 'Taiwan independence', stop
selling weapons and sending any wrong signals to Taiwan
secessionists," Jiang concluded.
The US Defense Department has submitted this report to Congress
annually since 2000.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)
