There has been no shortage of criticism from Beijing following the release of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS). China’s defense ministry joined other agencies and state media in decrying the document’s focus on China, arguing that it is counterproductive to the development of US-China relations.
The NSS “creates sensationalized hype about the modernization of China’s military,” a statement on the ministry’s website said Wednesday. The plan runs counter to the trend of the development of Sino-US relations, the statement added.
“China has and will always be a promoter of peace, a contributor to global development, and a protector of international order. […] Any report that aims to distort this truth and maliciously vilify will be in vein.”
“Regardless what level of development China reaches, it will never proclaim itself hegemon and never resort to expansionism,” the statement went on. “The development and strengthening of China’s military is the development and strengthening of the power of peace, and will aid in the world’s peace, stability and prosperity.”
The Trump NSS, released earlier this week, marked a shift in US policy toward China, notably referring to China as a strategic competitor.
“[China] is building the most capable and well-funded military in the world, after our own. Its nuclear arsenal is growing and diversifying,” the NSS reads. “Part of China’s military modernization and economic expansion is due to its access to the U.S. innovation economy, including America’s world-class universities.”
How can China be "a protector of international order" as she claims that her territorial waters is about a thousand nautical mile wide in the South China Sea? The international order means each country has only 12 nautical miles of the coastal sea as its territroial waters. If China wants more, does it mean each country has as much as China does?
China clearly is an international competitor as are all the other countries in the world includimng us. What nonsense to say otherwise. China has developed an impressive array of military weaponry including space weapons. China’s treatment of Tibet, the sea lanes, Taiwan etc. shows that China does what it wants when it wants and has the muscle to assure no one gets in their way. But unlike Russia and the United States China has managed to avoid major conflicts, but that doesn’t mean they will stay that way if anyone interferes with what they are pursuing.
Wood Wu You’re delusional… The US has no inclinations to defeat China. We couldn’t if we wanted to, but it’s not even an issue on the table.
Damn! I always wanted to know what makes Chinatown Markham, Ontario tick. Now I kmow.
“International” order means 『 Western interests 』, Markham, Ontario. It does not serve the interests of 『 the world of the Chinese』. Never have, never will.
Art Laramee ……I agree the US never wanted to defeat China. I should have said, the US always wanted to defeat China’s expansionism. As long as China gives up her expansion ambition, such as in the South China Sea, or else, the US will not do anything.
Mon Mah …..If the International order means only Western interests, why China did not see it before she asked to join in, asked in the years of 1980s. China tried very hard to join the international order after the 1980s and China’s interests were served very well thereafter. Before joining in China was very very poor and weak. After joining in, China became very very rich and strong. ….Your belief that the international order does not serve the interests of the world of the Chinese, never have, never will, runs against both history and current reality. How can the West build an order that does not serve one particular country alone? There are hundreds of countries. Your belief implies the West left out one particular country in the cold, that is China, by design. If so, the West should have refused China’s membership request. Why the West welcomed China with open arms? Was Canada a member of the West? Did Canada take part in the establishment of the international order? Did Canada agree to the strange design?
Wood Wu Why not ask Tibet about China’s ‘non interferance policy’. Do you really think anyone sees China as a peaceful country?
Nope.
Wood Wu The Chinese People want to get on and make a living. It is the dictatorial and imperialist One Party which wants to focus on aggressive behaviour. Chinese people are one thing, Chinese Communist Party are not representing the peaceful minds of the Chinese people.
Let us be clear on that.