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)
