BANGKOK (AP) — In a scathing response on Wednesday, China accused the United States of being the “biggest disruptor of regional peace and stability” in the world. This comes after the release of a Pentagon report that highlights China’s rapidly growing military buildup.
The annual report, which is required by Congress, serves as a measure of China’s military capabilities. The U.S. government considers China its primary long-term security challenge and the key threat in the Asia-Pacific region.
Responding to the Pentagon report, China’s Ministry of Defense dismissed the findings as false. It further used this opportunity to criticize recent U.S. actions, such as aiding Israel and Ukraine, as well as the U.S.’ global military installations.
Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s defense ministry, questioned the U.S.’ actions, stating, “The U.S. has sent depleted uranium munitions and cluster bombs to Ukraine, sent its carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean and weapons and munitions to Israel, is this the so-called ‘gospel’ the ‘human rights defender is bringing to the area?”
The Pentagon report builds upon its previous warning that China has been rapidly expanding its nuclear force, along with overall military growth. The earlier warning suggested that by 2035, China could increase its number of warheads to 1,500, nearly quadrupling its current count.
China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, is set to visit the United States on Thursday. This comes ahead of a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November. U.S.-China relations have been deteriorating since 2018, initially due to a trade dispute, but have since expanded to include issues related to the pandemic, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan.
China took the opportunity to address Taiwan in its response to the Pentagon report. The report stated that China has been exerting military, diplomatic, and economic pressure on the self-ruled island.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has become more assertive in recent years. This claim has become a major point of tension between China and the U.S., as U.S. support for Taiwan has grown. The U.S. has also sold billions of dollars in weapons to Taiwan, which the island’s government claims are for self-defense and deterrence.
The spokesperson emphasized, “We urge the U.S. to stop using any excuse, any method to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan military links and illegally arm Taiwan in any way.”
The U.S. provides Taiwan with sales under the Taiwan Relations Act, which was passed by Congress in 1979 to ensure the island’s ability to defend itself.
