In a recent statement, China's Ministry of National Defense emphasized that China has no intention of challenging any country. Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the ministry, asserted that the United States is its own worst enemy, responding to inquiries about the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025. The NDAA proposes a defense budget of up to $895.2 billion, highlighting China as a major challenge to U.S. national security.
Zhang criticized the rising U.S. military expenditure, labeling it as a clear indication of the country's belligerent nature and obsession with hegemony and expansion. He pointed out that the U.S. military spending has been the highest globally for an extended period and continues to grow rapidly each year.
According to Zhang, many current wars and conflicts stem from U.S. policy failures. He highlighted that wars and military operations initiated by the U.S. since 2001 have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of injuries, and displaced tens of millions of people. Zhang stated, \"The U.S.' abuse of force not only brings harm to the world, but also accelerates its own decline.\"
The spokesperson also criticized the NDAA for exaggerating the perceived \"China military threat\" as a pretext to increase U.S. military spending and maintain its hegemony. He added, \"This grossly interferes with China's internal affairs and undermines world peace and stability. We are strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to it.\"
Despite these tensions, Zhang emphasized that the planet is large enough for both China and the U.S. to develop individually and collectively. He reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development and a defensive defense policy, stating, \"We do not engage in any arms race with any other country, and always serve as a defender for world peace.\"
He urged the U.S. to abandon its Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset, cautioning against attempts to contain or outcompete China, which could undermine bilateral relations and military cooperation between the two nations.
Looking ahead, Zhang vowed that with stronger capabilities and more reliable methods, the Chinese military will take resolute countermeasures against any infringements and provocations to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Reference(s):
Worst enemy of the U.S. is itself, says Chinese spokesperson
cgtn.com
