PLA criticizes US for hyping 'Chinese military threat'

The People's Liberation Army expressed its strong dissatisfaction and opposition against the United States' hyping up the so-called Chinese military threat in its annual Pentagon report on the Chinese military, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Friday night.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the ministry, said the report published by the US Department of Defense on Thursday is full of biases and has made baseless accusations on China's nuclear force development, interfered with China's domestic affairs on multiple topics, such as the Taiwan question.

For more than two decades, the US has been concocting this kind of report year after year, "this is a blatant act of hegemony", said Wu.

"We want to solemnly warn the US that any attempt to bully China or interfere in its domestic affairs will have their heads busted open against the iron great wall of the PLA," he added.

China resolutely upholds a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and has adopted an active-defense military strategy. "China's military development is completely for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests," he said.

"It is for crushing any ploy to undermine regional peace, stability and prosperity. It does not target any country nor will it pose a threat to any other country," he said.

The Chinese military has proactively supported building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. It has participated in peacekeeping, escort missions, anti-COVID-19 efforts, humanitarian aid and rescue, as well as other endeavors to support public security for the international community.

"These actions have demonstrated the sense of responsibility required of a military from a big nation, and have injected strong positive energy to regional and world stability," he said. "History and reality have proven that China's military development will bring security and opportunities to the world, not threats and challenges."

Wu said a war-mongering nation, no matter its size and strength, is doomed to fail. In recent years the US hasn't only expanded its military might in nuclear, space, cybersecurity, hypersonic technologies, but has also withdrawn from several arms control treaties, he said.

The US has also expanded nuclear submarine cooperation with the United Kingdom and Australia, and has artificially created a serious risk of nuclear proliferation, Wu said.

"The US host the world's largest nuclear weapon arsenal, but it is still upgrading its nuclear power. The US is the biggest contributor to global nuclear threat," Wu said, adding the US still owes the international community a detail explanation on how its nuclear submarine hit an underwater mountain in the South China Sea.

In regard to territorial integrity and maritime claims, Wu said China's stance has always been clear, adding that the Diaoyu Islands are an inseparable part of China. China also has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and reefs, as well as their adjacent waters, in the South China Sea, he said.

"China has always advocated peaceful resolution of disputes through negotiation and consultation, but will adamantly oppose any country outside of the region from interfering," he said.

Wu said Taiwan is also an inseparable part of China. However, the island's ruling party has continuously pursued its secession agenda with the connivance of foreign powers. "This is the root cause for the rising tension in the Taiwan Straits," he said.

Wu said the Chinese military resolutely oppose the US playing the Taiwan card to pressure China, as well as any foreign powers interfering in Taiwan affairs.

"The PLA has the strong determination, adamant will and formidable capability to deliver head-on blows to any foreign powers that are stirring up tension in the Taiwan Straits or are intentionally creating regional crises," Wu said.

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