As expected, Beijing reacted angrily to the United States Defense Department’s latest report on China’s military. Qin Gang, the spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, called the document a “gross distortion” and “interference” into the country’s internal affairs.
“We urge the U.S. side to…drop the Cold War mentality and bias, stop issuing the so-called report on China’s military power and stop making groundless accusations against China so as not to further damage the two countries’ military relations.”
This year’s report highlights China’s improving capacity to fight and win short conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region against adversaries with technologically advanced armed forces – shifting the regional balance of power. While the country’s ability to project and “sustain military power at a distance remains limited,” the Pentagon fears China’s investments in modern technologies for nuclear, space and cyber warfare.
Photo from AFP.