BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry likened U.S. doubts about Chinese defence spending on Thursday to a peeping tom poking through Beijing’s underwear, describing the Asian giant as a benign neighbour and force for peace.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney raised concerns about China’s military build-up last week when touring Asia.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang quickly rejected Cheney’s criticism, but at Thursday’s regular news briefing he added a new twist to the rhetoric.
“If someone always tears through your clothes and even wants to lift open your underwear, saying ‘Let me see what’s inside’, how would you feel? Would you want to call the police?” Qin told reporters when asked about Cheney’s remarks.
China’s defence spending has risen steadily in recent years and, when parliament convenes next week, it is expected to approve another rise in the military budget.
Last year, the National People’s Congress announced a 14.7 percent rise in the defence budget over the previous year, to 284 billion yuan (18.7 billion pounds). Foreign analysts say China’s true defence expenditure may be up to three times that, and Washington has urged Beijing to be more forthright about its military budget and intentions.
“China maintains a reasonable national defence strength to protect our sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national unity,” Qin said. “Not for expansion, and certainly not for wars of aggression abroad.”
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