Beijing recently denied a rumor that the Pakistani government has invited it to build a naval base at the port of Gwadar. 

But this doesn't stop some of the Western countries and India, China's regional competitor, playing with the so-called China threat theory.

China still has many internal issues other than military development that require urgent attentions, and its military is only being developed to meet the country's self-defense needs. China has made these points many times in the international arena.

China has also made it clear that it wants to maintain peaceful and harmonious relationships with other regional powers.

However, if China is going to play an important role in the Asia-Pacific region and on the international stage, as urged by the international community, it eventually will need to establish overseas military bases in cooperation with other countries.

Military co-operation, along with economic and cultural co-operation, will become increasingly important between China and other regional powers. 

It will not only make our world safer, but can also protect trade routes from pirates and terrorists. Worrying about China's overseas military activity will only isolate China from the rest of the world.

Thus, if the world really wants China to take more responsibilities in Asia-Pacific region and around the world, it should allow China to participate in international military co-operations and understand the need of China to set up overseas military bases. 

Peace is China's only military interest and the international community should keep this in mind.

Huanqiu Shibao