Chinese Army not interested in engaging in an arms race

Beijing, Jan.16 (ANI): The People's Liberation Army (PLA) will not engage in any arms race and its development does not pose a threat to any country, a senior military official has said.

The China Daily quoted Huang Xueping, deputy director-general of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense, as saying in an interview China was not building up its military power, or changing its defensive policy, or aiming to expand its military presence worldwide.

"The Somali mission shows China's efforts to undertake its international obligations as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and our determination to preserve regional stability and peace. Of course, it also demonstrates our confidence in the PLA's handling of various security threats and accomplishing of diversified military missions," Huang said.

"But it never signaled that we were deviating from the defensive policy. We also tell the world candidly that the Chinese defense policy is always defensive in nature'," he said.

Huang said the modernization of the Chinese armed forces is aimed at preserving national sovereignty, security and reunification of the country.

China's military budget last year was an estimated 417.769 million Yuan (61.101 million USD), about 1.4 percent of its GDP.

Huang said China would continue to carry out comprehensive military exchanges with other countries and fill its obligation as a major country in the future. (ANI)