China made a strong representation against the United States for its wrong opinions on China in the US National Security Strategy (NSS) report issued recently, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Monday.

Qin Gang, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, gestures while answering a question at the ministry's regular press briefing in this March 16, 2006 photo. [fmprc.gov.cn]

The report on the one hand said China shares many common interests with the United States and the two countries should strengthen cooperation in fields of anti-terrorism and non-proliferation, according to the spokesman.

However, on the other hand, the report made irresponsible remarks to groundlessly reproach China's domestic and foreign policies and interfered in China's internal affairs, said Qin. 

"China expressed its strong dissatisfaction with the above wrong doings of the United States and has made strong representations against the US side," Qin said.

He said China is a major force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and China has already decided its domestic and foreign policies and development direction.

"That is to firmly take the socialist road with Chinese characteristics and peaceful development road, and adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace. China is dedicating itself to building a peaceful,friendly, cooperative and harmonious world with other nations," Qin said.

He said China has made great economic and social achievements since it started reforms and opening up 28 years ago. The living conditions of Chinese people have been greatly improved and the citizens have enjoyed an increasingly higher level of human rights.

China carries out a national defense policy which is defensive in nature and its limited national defense strength is targeted for self-defense, Qin said.

He said China has conducted economic and energy cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits,and this is completely rightful and beyond reproach.

"China's development has brought about unprecedented opportunities for the Asian-Pacific region as well as the world on the whole, and contributed to maintaining world peace and common development," Qin said, adding that this is obvious to all and has been confirmed by the international community.

On the Taiwan issue, he said he hopes the U.S. side will strictly stick to its commitments of adhering to the one-China policy, abiding by the three Sino-U.S. communiques and opposing "Taiwan independence".

The Chinese government has a consistent, definite and firm policy in solving the Taiwan issue.

China will make its utmost efforts to solve the issue in a peaceful manner, but will never tolerate "Taiwan independence" and will never allow anyone to secede Taiwan from the motherland under any name or by any means, said Qin, calling on the U.S. side not to make any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" activists.

Qin said the development of constructive partnership of cooperation between China and the United States is in the common interests of both countries and the two peoples and at the same time conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

"We ask the U.S. side to stop releasing remarks that are harmful to the healthy development of the Sino-U.S. relations, to mutual understanding and to regional peace, stability and development," said Qin.

"We hope the U.S. side will take feasible measures to eliminate the harmful influence of the related remarks and opinions in the report and fulfill the consensus reached by the two state heads to fully promote the constructive partnership of cooperation in the 21st century with concrete acts, to safeguard the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations and the fundamental common interests of the two countries," Qin said.