China Denies Its Military Poses a Threat to Other Nations

A senior Chinese army official says China's military development poses no threat to other nations. The comments by Zhang Qinsheng, deputy chief of the Chinese army's general staff, come a day after a top U.S. defense official called China's successful ground-to-space destruction of an aging satellite an "unpleasant development".

In an interview published by the government-run "China Daily" newspaper, Zhang said the Chinese People's Liberation Army will never engage in an arms race or threaten any country. He says China has taken measures to improve the transparency of its military. He also says the country has never sought military expansion or built overseas military bases.

中国军方一位高级官员表示，中国的军事发展不对其他国家构成威胁。在中国人民解放副总参谋长章沁生发表这一评论的前一天，美国国防部一位高级官员称中国成功发射对空导弹摧毁一枚废弃卫星，是“令人不快的发展”。

在官方报纸中国日报发表的一篇采访报导中，章沁生说，中国人民解放军将永不参与军备竞赛或威胁其他国家。他说，中国已经采取措施，提高军方的透明度。他还说，中国从未寻求军事扩张，也不曾在海外建立军事基地。