A Chinese military expert on Tuesday refuted the "China threat" rhetoric currently in the air, saying the Chinese military is increasingly open and transparent.

"The Chinese army is becoming more open and transparent," said Peng Guangqian, a major general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). "This is a refutation of the 'China threat' thesis."

Major General Peng made the comment at the one-day military exercise code-named "North Sword 2005" held Tuesday in a training base in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Forty foreign military officers from 24 nations were invited to watch the exercise at the Zhurihe training base, a tactical drill base in north China.

The exercise is an important multilateral military exchange activity with the largest number of foreign observers since the founding of new China in 1949, according to sources with Chinese Defense Ministry.

The exercise epitomizes China's sincere wish to safeguard world peace and stability and will help enhance mutual trust and understanding and remove suspicion, said Peng, who is also a research fellow with the PLA Military Academy of Sciences.

It is the fifth time China invites foreign observers to watch military exercises in the past five years since 2000. The North Sword 2005 drill, which involves approximately 16,000 soldiers, has invited the largest number of foreign observers ever.

"The facts prove that China does not constitute threat to any country. instead China is a major force in safeguarding world peace and stability," said Peng.

China holds military exercises in order to improve training and combat capacities, which are not aimed at specific targets, said Peng.

Through such exercises as North Sword 2005, the foreign countries can come to understand the Chinese army, including training and combat information that used to be confidential, Peng acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Peng said, China has managed to increase its transparency in the military arena, releasing four white papers on defense policy, military strategic guidelines and military modernization.

"'China threat' rhetoric collapses in on itself in the face of these gestures," Peng said.

Source: Xinhua