Calling China "a peace-loving nation", Chinese defense spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang recently claimed that while Beijing never engages in aggression or expansion, it will never give up its legitimate rights and interests.
In what comes as a response to the remarks of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth who said "the ambitions of the communist Chinese are a threat" to people everywhere and the call to its partners to deter "aggression in the Indo-Pacific" by China, Zhang said while China never engages in aggression, it will take firm countermeasures against any kind of threats and challenges.
Zhang noted that China's national defense policy is defensive in nature and added that its military is a staunch force for peace.
ALSO READ: Is Chinese military just a paper dragon? RAND report raises questions about PLA's combat readiness
He urged America not to make competition the underlying logic of the times and instead focus on a relationship that serves both sides.
"A steady, sound and sustained China-US diplomatic and defense relationship serves the common interests of the two countries and meets the general expectation of the international community," Zhang said, according to Chinadaily.
He expressed hope that the US would work with China in the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to deepen state-to-state and military-to-military exchanges and cooperation, to bring certainty and positive energy to the world.
