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China will not seek hegemony, says top military official

Defence modernisation for safeguarding development

WASHINGTON: China's defence modernisation is aimed at safeguarding her peaceful development and the country will never seek hegemony, China's top military officer said on Wednesday.

General Guo Boxiong, Vice-Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during a speech delivered at the U.S. National Defence University.

Gen. Guo said China's efforts in advancing defence modernisation is a natural need for shielding her peaceful development, which cannot be achieved without security safeguards.

He said defence modernisation not only meets the need to protect her peaceful development and interests, but also helps to maintain peace and stability in her region and the world as a whole.

He noted that China adopts a defensive defence policy and will never seek hegemony.

Peaceful development is a natural choice for China-based on her historical traditions, national realities and the trend of the time, he said.

Following the path of peaceful development is an inevitable requirement for China to realise her modernisation goals and it is deeply rooted in her culture and history, in accordance with the trend of the time and the right direction of human society, Gen. Guo said.

The armed forces of the United States and China share a common objective of enhancing exchange and cooperation, he said.

The two militaries also share common strategic interests in a wide range of areas including fighting terrorism, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, protecting environment and cracking down on trans-national crimes, said the General.

Gen. Guo arrived in Washington on Monday night and met U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald H. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday. — Xinhua

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