China opposes US report on Chinese military

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Friday expressed "firm opposition" to a Pentagon report that misrepresents China's military development.

Hong's comment came after the US Department of Defense on Thursday released its annual report on Chinese military and security development,which focused on China's defense spending increase, and overlooked China's peaceful defense policy.

The 96-page report, "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2014", is thicker than last year's, and questioned the transparency of China's defense spending.

Hong said the Pentagon report questioned the normal defense construction of China as well as its legitimate behavior to safeguard territorial sovereignty and security interests.

He said the groundless speculation on China's military development is made with ulterior motives.

Hong stressed China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued a defense policy which is defensive in nature and become a staunch force in safeguarding peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region and the world.

"China's military buildup is completely aimed at safeguarding the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and is part of the country's justified rights," he said.

China has taken note of the positive part of the report on the importance of bilateral military exchanges, said Hong, adding that China is committed to strengthening military exchanges with the US

China hopes that the US will abandon the Cold War mentality, view China's military development in an objective and rational way, stop misrepresenting and criticizing China's military strategy and stop issuing such reports, he said, urging the US side to promote the healthy development of bilateral military ties with concrete action.