BEIJING, Mar. 25 -- Though China does not intend to challenge anyone, it is not afraid of facing challenges; though China does not want to threaten anyone, it is not afraid of any threat, said the Chinese defense spokesperson at a regular press conference on Thursday.
Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when asked to comment on a security document recently released by the US government, as well as the remarks made by the US Defense Ministry, which regarded China as America’s only competitor with the economic and military capabilities to challenge the current international system and the "number-one pacing challenge".
Ren said that the US remarks have reflected its Cold War mindset. What the US has done is nothing but creating enemies and playing up threats, with the purpose of finding excuses for sustaining hegemony. Those words have reflected the US side’s stubbornness to maintain hegemony, pursuit of the law of the jungle, and dangerous misjudgment of China. China firmly opposes those US remarks as they conform to neither the facts nor the common interests of the two countries and the world.
Firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, China upholds a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and persists in promoting world peace and development through its own development. The Chinese military develops sound military relations with its foreign counterparts, participates in global security governance, and continues to provide public security products such as international peacekeeping, high-sea escort, and global anti-epidemic supplies. It has constantly made new contributions to defending national interests, maintaining world peace, and serving the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Ren stressed that China has the right to achieve self-development, the freedom to choose its own path, the ability to defend itself, and the capability to defend its legitimate rights and interests. No one and no force can stop the Chinese people from striving for a better life. The Chinese military is determined to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, and it always has such capabilities.
We hope that the US can have a clear understanding of the situation, and view the development of China and the Chinese military rationally. We urge the US to properly handle the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, work with the Chinese side toward the same goal, strengthen dialogue and communication, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences and foster sound and stable relations between the two militaries, Ren added.
