Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense Photo: mod.gov.cn

The US is shifting blame, hyping and fabricating the non-existent "Chinese military threat," which is a premeditated attack and smear against China, with undisclosed political motives behind it, said Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense. China firmly opposes this and has lodged solemn representations with the US, Zhang said in response to US defense officials' claims about "provocative actions" by China's military aircraft over the East China Sea and South China Sea.

During a press conference held by the US Department of Defense on Tuesday, US defense officials accused China of conducting a "centralized and concerted campaign of harassment of aircraft" against the US and its allies in the airspace over the East China Sea and South China Sea since 2021.

Zhang said in a statement on Friday that the root cause of the maritime and aerial security issues between China and the US lies in the fact that US military ships and aircraft have come from afar to provoke and stir up trouble at China's doorstep, conducting long-duration, large-scale, and high-frequency reconnaissance harassment in China's surrounding maritime and aerial areas.

The spokesperson noted that in 2023, US reconnaissance aircraft have conducted over 2,000 close-in activities, and US warships have illegally trespassed into China's Xisha territorial waters twice and passed through the Taiwan Straits five times, openly hyping up their actions and deliberately provoking China to demonstrate strength, which easily leads to dangerous encounters and escalates regional tensions.

China has taken professional and secure measures, such as verification, identification, tracking, monitoring, warning, and expulsion, in accordance with the law and regulations against foreign warships and aircraft that illegally intrude into its jurisdictional maritime and aerial areas and disrupt normal training activities, Zhang said.

In the face of provocative and hostile acts, China is forced to take necessary countermeasures, just like any sovereign country would do. The facts speak louder than words, and it is the US side that is the real provocateur, risk-taker, and disruptor, said Zhang.

"We urge the US side to stop misleading international public opinion with false narratives, to strictly control and restrain frontline military activities, and refrain from any provocative actions," said Zhang, noting that this is necessary to avoid misunderstandings and to prevent maritime and aerial accidents that could undermine regional peace and stability.

The Chinese military always maintains a high level of alertness and resolutely defends national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests, Zhang said.

Global Times