国内英语新闻:China refutes Pentagon report judging military strength

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced strong opposition to a Pentagon report on China's military development and security, urging the U.S. to stop making improper remarks.

Spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to the report released on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense hyping up the so-called "China threat" and "lack of military transparency."

Saying the report ignores the facts and inappropriately judges China's efforts in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and security interests, Lu stressed that China, as a facilitator of world peace, a contributor to global development and a maintainer of international order, always adheres to a peaceful development path and defensive military strategy.

"China's efforts in advancing its national defense aims to safeguard independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," Lu said, adding that exercising a sovereign state's legitimate rights is entirely justifiable and unquestionable.

The spokesperson called on the U.S. to abandon its Cold War mindset and old-fashioned zero-sum game approach, and adopt an objective and rational attitude towards China's strategic intentions and military development, stop issuing such irresponsible reports, and make concrete efforts to maintain the stable growth of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.