The Ministry of National Defense Thursday refuted a US claim that it has identified "new threats" from China to "undermine" its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, calling a speech by Defense Secretary Robert Gates irresponsible and groundless.

"We demand the US respect facts, take concrete measures to correct its wrong remarks and stop misleading the press, as well as to halt the behavior that damages ties between the two nations' armies," said Hu Changming, a ministry spokesman Thursday.

"China has always been pursuing a defensive national security policy," he said. "We will resolutely keep our commitment to peace and development."

The US military took a step further Wednesday in displaying its anxiety and distrust toward China's armed forces, a day after the release of an intelligence report that warned of Beijing's military modernization.

"In fact, when considering the military-modernization programs of countries like China, we should be concerned less with their potential ability to challenge the US symmetrically-fighter to fighter or ship to ship-and more with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options," Gates said in a speech to the Air Force Association.

"Investments in cyber and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry, and ballistic missiles could threaten America's primary way to project power and help allies in the Pacific – in particular our forward air bases and carrier strike groups," Gates said.


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