China is calling on the U.S. government to stop issuing an annual report on the Chinese military, saying its latest edition is a "groundless" and "gross interference in China's internal affairs."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists in Beijing Thursday that the report continues to play up what he says is the fallacy of China's military threat. He warned that if the United States does not stop issuing the report, it would have an impact on U.S.-China relations.
The U.S. Department of Defense report on Wednesday said the Chinese military is developing what it calls "disruptive" capabilities, including technologies for space, nuclear, and cyber warfare.
The report said such pursuits are shifting the balance of military power within Asia and possibly outside the region. It also said China's lack of transparency increases the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.
The release of the report comes weeks after the U.S. accused Chinese sailors of harassing a U.S. Navy ship in the South China Sea.
After that dispute, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, told a U.S. Senate panel that China seems to be taking a "more military, aggressive" stance. He added that the U.S. intelligence community sees this as a "trend."
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
