By IANS,
Beijing : Dismissing an annual report by the Pentagon assessing the Chinese military, China has said it “severely distorted the facts”, a media report said.
The report, submitted to the US Congress by the Pentagon annually since 2000, reportedly comments about China’s lack of transparency on its military development and shows concern over Beijing’s military build-up, the China Daily said.
“The report does not hold water as it severely distorted the facts. China has lodged solemn representations with the US side,” Yang Yujun, spokesman for the ministry of national defence was quoted as saying.
China adheres to the path of peaceful development, and its national defence policy is defensive in nature, Yang said.
He said China’s defence build-up “is solely to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensure smooth economic and social development. It does not target any country”.
Given the progress in science and technology, it was normal for the Chinese army to develop new weapons, which was a common practice among countries all over the world, he said.
He said the Chinese army has been actively conducting exchanges with foreign armies, and is always committed to global peace and regional stability.
“China demands that the US side view China’s military development in an objective and fair manner and stop publishing the so-called report,” he said.