The Chinese defence ministry has lodged a protest with the United States against a Pentagon report which claimed that China's military is training to strike against the US and its allies. China dismissed the report as a "pure guesswork". The report is released amid heightened US-China tensions over trade with both sides introducing a new set of protectionist measures every now and then.
The report explicitly mentioned that China's military has expanded its bomber operations in recent years while "likely training for strikes" against the United States and its allies. The US also estimated that the defence budget of China has gone beyond $190 billion in 2017.
The report also added that "Armed forces under the ruling Chinese Communist Party "continued to develop and deploy increasingly advanced military capabilities intended to coerce Taiwan, signal Chinese resolve, and gradually improve capabilities for an invasion."
However, in a statement on late Friday, Aug 17 evening, the Chinese defence ministry said that the report misinterpreted China's strategic interest and portrayed China as an aggressor. It also added that "China's military expresses resolute opposition to this and has lodged stern representations with the US side."
The report was made with reference to China's airforce landing bombers on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which is a disputed area.
The US and Chinese military relationship have been tested in the last few months, even though both the countries have created a dedicated channel to resolve and military issues. In the recent times, the tension between the two countries increased when the Pentagon withdrew an invitation to China to join a multinational naval exercise.
To normalise the relationship, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited China in June hence becoming the first Pentagon chief to visit China since 2014.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has also warned China against any misadventures. Taiwan's defence ministry said that the country is capable of deterring an invasion. Notably, Taiwan, with economic assistance from the United States, has also increased its defence spending in recent times.
