China yesterday strongly opposed a Pentagon report on the strength of the country's military, saying it is not only exaggerated, but also a severe interference in its internal affairs.

The US Defense Department report released on Friday said that while Beijing is focused on the Taiwan Straits as a potential flashpoint, it also appears to be projecting its growing military strength elsewhere.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said: "The Pentagon report exaggerates China's military strength and expenditure with ulterior motives.

"It continues spreading the 'China threat' theory, seriously violates the norms of international relations and is a gross interference in China's internal affairs. The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this.

"China is a peace-loving country which sticks to a path of peaceful development and adopts a defensive national defense policy.

"The international community has a fair judgment that China is an important force in promoting peace in the Asia-Pacific (region) and in the world.

"The report's (attempt at) whipping up the 'China threat' theory is completely wrong and will be in vain.

"It is the responsibility of any sovereign country to conduct necessary national defense build-up to safeguard national security and territorial integrity."

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the central government sticks to the policy of peaceful reunification, Jiang said.

She urged the United States to abide by the three Sino-US communiqus, respect the one-China policy, stop selling weapons to Taiwan and sever its military ties with the island so that it would not send a wrong message to Taiwan separatists.

Source: China Daily