CCTV News: On the afternoon of February 14, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, released a message on recent military issues.

Reporter: It is reported that after the new US Defense Minister was sworn in, he clearly stated that he would rebuild the morale of the US military and cooperate with allies and partners to curb China's "aggression" in the Indo-Pacific region. What is your comment on this?

Question:It is reported that after being sworn in as the new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth made clear that the US would restore the warrior ethos and work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Asia-Pacific by China. What’s your comment?

Zhang Xiaogang: We firmly oppose the false accusations of the US. China has always pursued a defensive national defense policy and adhered to an active defensive military strategy. The Chinese military has always been a firm force in maintaining world peace. The Chinese people cherish peace. We never engage in aggression and expansion, but we will never give up our legitimate rights and interests and resolutely counter all threats and challenges.

Zhang Xiaogang:We firmly oppose the groundless accusation made by the US side. China pursues a national defense policy that is defend in nature and a military strategy of active defense. The Chinese military is a staunch force for peace. As a peace-loving nation, China never engages in aggression or expansion. But we will never give up our legitimate rights and interests, and will take firm countermeasures against threats and challenges.

It should be emphasized that competition among major powers should not be the background of the times. A stable, healthy and sustainable relationship between China and the United States is in line with the common interests of the two countries and the general expectations of the international community. Standing at a new starting point, we hope that the United States will move with China in line with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries, inject certainty and positive energy into the world.

I want to emphasize that major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times. A steady, sound and sustained China-US diplomatic and defense relationship serves the common interests of the two countries and meets the general expectation of the international community. Standing at a new starting point, we hope the US will work with China on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to deepen state-to-state and military-to-military exchanges and cooperation, so as to inject certainty and positive energy into the world.