China-US relations: Beijing slams Pentagon report, blames Taipei for stirring up regional tensions

‘China Military Power Report’ makes ‘groundless accusations’ about Beijing’s spending, nuclear policies and Taiwan, defence ministry says

Military advancement ‘driven by defending national sovereignty’ and is no threat to any country, it says

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China says its military build-up is about defending its sovereignty and poses no threat to any country. Photo: AP

Published: 4:00pm, 13 Sep 2020Updated: 11:10pm, 13 Sep 2020

A US report accusing China of ramping up its nuclear and missile forces to “revise” the international order is libellous and provocative, Beijing said on Sunday.

In an official statement, China’s defence ministry expressed its “resolute opposition” to the “China Military Power Report”, which was published recently by the US defence department.

The report, which has been tracking China’s military expansion annually since 2000, “promotes the so-called China threat narrative and defames Chinese military’s modernisation” ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in an official statement.

“It makes groundless accusations about China’s military spending, nuclear policies and Taiwan issues,” he said.

“Chinese military advancement was driven by defending national sovereignty, safety and development. It is not against any country and would not threaten any country,” Wu said, adding that the US report was a display of “hegemony and provocation” and damaging to military ties between the two powers.

A major concern highlighted in the US report was the build-up of Chinese ground, air and naval forces that could be made available in the event of an invasion of Taiwan or an armed conflict with the self-ruled island.