China's foreign ministry reacted angrily to an alarming report published by the U.S. Department of Defense that warned that Beijing's modernizing military could pose a threat to the United States.
The 140-page report—"China Military Power: Modernizing a Force to Fight and Win"—was published by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). It suggested Beijing's growing investment in its military meant American leaders "will face a China insistent on having a greater voice in global interactions, which at times may be antithetical to U.S. interests."
But a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry branded Washington "unprofessional, hostile and biased" at a press conference held Wednesday, the state-controlled Global Times reported.
"The report, in disregard of facts, made assumptions on China's development path and strategic purposes using a Cold War mentality and zero-sum game," claimed Hua Chunying.
The American report—signed by DIA Director Lieutenant General Robert Ashley—suggested China's tenacious pursuit of the best military technology aims to dissuade outside interference in its relationship with Taiwan—the independent island nation China believes should fall under Beijing's rule.
"China is building a robust, lethal force with capabilities spanning the air, maritime, space and information domains which will enable China to impose its will in the region," Ashley wrote. The report also warned that Chinese forces are already fielding the most advanced weapons in the world in some areas.
Hua told reporters the report was "extremely unprofessional and contained absurd accusations." She said China "urged the U.S. military to reasonably and objectively treat China's military development and safeguard the military ties between the two countries."
Turning to the contentious Taiwan issue, Hua said it was an internal matter. Under its "one-China" policy, Beijing is committed to bringing the island under Communist Party rule—whether by diplomatic means or by force.
Washington has historically supported the island's independence via regional military deployments and extensive armament sales, making the issue a diplomatic flashpoint between the world's two largest economies.
Global Times is aligned with the Communist Party, and regularly used as a channel to disseminate government talking points. The newspaper cited an anonymous "Beijing-based Chinese military expert" who delivered a scathing rebuke of America's approach to China.
"The U.S. still treats China's military development as a threat and is suspicious of China's intention to develop its forces, but the facts in recent years have proven that China never uses military conflicts to resolve its disputes with other countries, while the U.S. launches foreign military interventions and operations again and again," he said.
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