China criticises new US report on its military
Saturday, 28 March 2009
BEIJING, Mar 27 (AP): China slammed a newly released US report on Beijing's growing military power as a "gross distortion," saying Thursday that it could damage military relations between the two countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang lashed out at the report as "interference" in China's affairs and said his country had formally complained.
"It is a gross distortion of facts and interference into China's internal affairs. China resolutely opposes it and has made solemn representation to the US side," he told a regularly scheduled news conference.
A US Defence Department report released in Washington - the first under the Obama administration - said Beijing's rapidly growing military strength is shifting the military balance in the region and could be used to enforce its claim in disputed territories.
China's objections were strong, signaling what continues to a bumpy start with the new US administration. The two governments have tried to minimize differences, but frictions already have surfaced, including this month's confrontation between a US naval ship and Chinese vessels and China's concerns over the weakened US economy.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang lashed out at the report as "interference" in China's affairs and said his country had formally complained.
"It is a gross distortion of facts and interference into China's internal affairs. China resolutely opposes it and has made solemn representation to the US side," he told a regularly scheduled news conference.
A US Defence Department report released in Washington - the first under the Obama administration - said Beijing's rapidly growing military strength is shifting the military balance in the region and could be used to enforce its claim in disputed territories.
China's objections were strong, signaling what continues to a bumpy start with the new US administration. The two governments have tried to minimize differences, but frictions already have surfaced, including this month's confrontation between a US naval ship and Chinese vessels and China's concerns over the weakened US economy.