THE Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced strong opposition to a Pentagon report on China’s military development and security, urging the U.S. to stop making improper remarks.

Spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to the report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Defense hyping up the so-called “China threat” and “lack of military transparency.”

Saying the report ignores the facts and inappropriately judges China’s efforts in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and security interests, Lu stressed that China, as a facilitator of world peace, a contributor to global development and a maintainer of international order, always adheres to a peaceful development path and defensive military strategy.

“China’s efforts in advancing its national defense aims to safeguard independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Lu said, adding that exercising a sovereign state’s legitimate rights is entirely justifiable and unquestionable.

Also, Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday said it resolutely opposes the report.

“It is an iron-clad fact that Taiwan is a part of China,” Wu stressed. “We urge the U.S. side to adhere to the one-China policy and the principle of the three joint communiques, and to discreetly deal with Taiwan-related issues.”

The Chinese military will as always stand firm in safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Wu said.

China’s peaceful construction activities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which are legitimate rights of a sovereign state, aim at safeguarding national territory and meeting demand of the people, so as to better fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations, the spokesperson said.

(Xinhua)