BEIJING: Beijing on Wednesday dismissed as ‘irresponsible’ an annual US Defense Department report that predicted China would expand its global military presence, building overseas bases in countries like Pakistan.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a regular briefing Wednesday that China ‘is firmly opposed’ to aspects of the publication. “We have noted the report released by the US which made irresponsible remarks about China’s national defence development in disregard of the facts,” Hua said, declining to comment on ‘speculation’ and noting that the ‘friendly cooperation (between China and Pakistan) does not target any third party’. As part of China’s expansive Belt and Road regional infrastructure project, China and Pakistan are building an economic corridor aimed at linking northwest China to the Arabian Sea. While talking about the country’s operating overseas defence projects, Hua said the bases were there to improve navigation safety and assistance for fishermen as well as “to safeguard China’s independent sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a legitimate right of a sovereign state.” “We hope the US side will put aside the Cold War mentality, view China’s military development in an objective and rational manner, and take concrete actions to maintain steady growth of the military relationship between the two countries,” Hua said.
