China criticizes US for Cold War mentality

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman angrily reacted strongly to the US Department of Defense's annual report on China's military activities.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying - Photo: Reuters

The above developments occurred at a recent press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry on June 8. Ms. Hua Chunying called the annual report to Congress of the US Department of Defense released on June 6 "full of prejudice and Cold War ideology that disregards reality".

Responding to a reporter's question about the accuracy of the information related to the Chinese military stated in the report, Ms. Hoa said "The US should stop giving such reports year after year."

"Instead, the US needs to take concrete actions to maintain the steady development of China-US relations as well as military relations between the two sides," Ms. Hua emphasized at the press conference.

Previously, a report of more than 100 pages by the Pentagon confirmed that by the end of 2016, China had built up to 24 hangars and many fortifications on three illegally occupied entities in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago.

The Pentagon believes that China will likely open more military bases abroad, especially in countries with long-standing relations and shared strategic interests with Beijing, such as Pakistan, after completing the construction of the facility in Djibouti.

China appears determined to continue increasing defense spending “in the near future,” despite slowing economic growth, the report said.

Compare with America

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier was developed and built in less than 4 years - Photo: Reuters

The above information was denied by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman on June 8, calling it "a normal, reasonable and necessary military development".

"Anyone who is objective enough will see the contradictions and shortcomings in the US Department of Defense's report," Ms. Hua Chunying emphasized. She also brazenly asserted that there was no such thing as "coercive action" in the East Sea because those were "necessary military facilities deployed on Chinese territory" (!?).

"If that is considered coercive, then what does the US consider its increased military presence in the East Sea and neighboring areas, its frequent military exercises aimed at clear targets, and its increased surveillance activities?", a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry was upset.

Ms. Hoa cited a Chinese proverb that it is okay for a superior to set fire to a house, but it is forbidden for an ordinary person to light a candle, meaning why the US can do it but China cannot.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman affirmed that the base that China is building in Djibouti is for peaceful purposes, to carry out anti-piracy and humanitarian missions in Africa.

Say and do inconsistently

However, reality shows that China is often inconsistent in its actions and words. For example, Beijing claims it is not militarizing the artificial islands it illegally occupies and builds in the East Sea, but satellite images have exposed that.

China says its overseas military bases are only for logistics purposes for peaceful missions, but according to experts, the seaports that China has invested in expanding are all in strategic locations, capable of receiving warships in China's service.

Observers say that many countries, including US allies, may be excited about Chinese investments, but that is only temporary. In fact, China’s increasing involvement and presence is also raising growing concerns in these countries.

As one international relations scholar put it, US allies may seek temporary economic benefits from Beijing, especially in the context of Washington's "America First" policy. But in the long term, in terms of security interests, these countries still want to stick closely to the US.

According to tuoitre.vn