Chinese President Xi Jinping said that going after some kind of military adventure "never crosses our mind" and reiterated the pledge that China will never practice expansionism or seek hegemony.[Special coverage]
"In strengthening our defense and military building, we are not going after some kind of military adventure. It never crosses our mind," Xi said in a written interview with Wall Street Journal.
As a big country that has vast territorial land, sea and airspace and very long borders, China needs to maintain proper investment in defense and keep the troop size at an appropriate level, Xi said.
China has no military base in Asia and stations no troops outside its borders, and has long pledged never to practice expansionism and seek hegemony.
In fact, Xi announced not long ago a troop cut by 300,000. China has also contributed more UN peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the Security Council.
The Chinese military has played important roles in anti-piracy escort operation in the Gulf of Aden and in the shipping of chemical weapons out of Syria for destruction, and also has helped many counties to deal with natural disasters.
Xi vowed to do more within China's capacity to provide public security goods to the international community.
He also called on the United States to enhance cooperation and coordination with China in the Asia Pacific, implementing the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation vigorously.
"We welcome whatever that contributes to regional peace and stability, and oppose whatever that may lead to conflict and turmoil in the region," Xi said.
China participated in RIMPAC for the first time in 2014 and the two militaries are stepping up the two Confidence-Building Mechanisms. @ "We hope to identify still more converging ground in the region for the two countries, continuously build up strategic trust and work with other countries in making the region more peaceful, stable, and prosperous," Xi said.
