This undated photo shows Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense. (PHOTO / MOD.GOV.CN)
BEIJING – A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday urged the United States to cease hostile naval and airforce maneuvers against China.
The US navy and air force conduct reconnaissance, surveying and highly targeted exercises and training for long periods of time near China, and frequently carries out infringing and provocative maneuvers. This is the root cause of military air and maritime safety issues between China and the US, said Tan Kefei, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense
Tan Kefei, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry regarding a video meeting recently held by Chinese and American militaries under their Maritime Military Consultative Agreement mechanism.
Tan said that in maintaining military air and maritime safety of China and the US, the most fundamental solution is that the US side desists from hostile maneuvers.
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The US navy and air force conduct reconnaissance, surveying and highly targeted exercises and training for long periods of time near China, and frequently carries out infringing and provocative maneuvers. This is the root cause of military air and maritime safety issues between China and the US, according to Tan.
Meanwhile, Tan expressed strong indignation at and firm opposition to a US defense spending act that contains negative content concerning China.
The US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, which is full of Cold War mentality and ideological bias, smears China's national defense policy and military and launches groundless accusations against China on issues related to Taiwan and Xinjiang, said Tan.
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It has seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China-US mutual trust and poisoned relations between the two countries and militaries, Tan said.
He urged the US side to abandon the zero-sum game mindset, develop an objective and rational perception of China's national defense and military, and stop issuing hostile policies towards China.