China has sharply criticised a United States defence assessment, accusing Washington of misrepresenting Beijing’s military posture and using selective analysis to sustain its own strategic dominance, while attempting to strain China’s relations with neighbouring states and major powers.Addressing a daily press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing “firmly opposes” the latest report issued by the Pentagon, arguing that it distorts China’s defence policy and frames regional dynamics through a confrontational lens. The report suggested that Beijing could be seeking to take advantage of eased tensions along the China–India boundary to limit the expansion of defence and strategic cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
According to Lin, the assessment seeks to manufacture suspicion and rivalry rather than reflect the realities of China’s security strategy. He said the document exaggerates threats, selectively interprets developments in the region and portrays China’s military modernisation as inherently destabilising. Beijing, he added, maintains a defence policy that is defensive in nature and rooted in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and regional stability.
The Pentagon’s analysis forms part of an annual review of China’s military capabilities and strategic outlook, a document that has repeatedly drawn criticism from Chinese officials. This year’s report focuses heavily on Beijing’s naval expansion, missile forces, and its posture along disputed frontiers, including the Line of Actual Control with India. It argues that reduced friction along the border could allow China to reallocate diplomatic and strategic resources elsewhere, including managing ties with Washington’s partners.
Chinese officials dispute that characterisation, insisting that relations with neighbouring countries are not guided by third-party considerations. Lin said China’s engagement with India and other regional actors is based on bilateral dialogue, confidence-building measures and respect for established mechanisms to manage differences. He rejected any suggestion that Beijing calibrates its border policies to counter the partnerships of other countries.
Relations between China and India have stabilised compared with the heightened tensions that followed the 2020 clashes in eastern Ladakh, though both sides continue to maintain substantial troop deployments and infrastructure along the frontier. Diplomatic and military talks have continued, with officials from both countries emphasising the importance of avoiding escalation while working through outstanding issues. Beijing has consistently framed these efforts as part of a broader commitment to regional peace rather than a tactical manoeuvre linked to global power competition.
The Pentagon report also situates China’s military development within a wider narrative of strategic rivalry, highlighting concerns over Beijing’s growing influence across the Indo-Pacific. It asserts that China’s defence investments and overseas engagement could challenge existing security architectures led by the United States and its allies. American officials argue that transparency and preparedness are necessary responses to what they describe as an increasingly assertive China.
Beijing counters that such assessments rely on Cold War-era thinking and risk fuelling mistrust. Lin said Washington frequently issues reports that amplify perceived threats while overlooking its own military footprint abroad. He pointed to the extensive network of overseas bases, alliances and advanced weapons systems maintained by the United States as evidence of what China describes as military hegemony.
Chinese analysts have echoed these views, arguing that US defence documents often conflate normal military modernisation with expansionism. They note that China’s defence spending, while growing in absolute terms, remains proportionate to its size and economic scale, and is significantly lower than that of the United States when measured per capita or as a share of global military expenditure.
The exchange comes at a time when communication between Washington and Beijing on security issues remains cautious. Senior military-to-military contacts have resumed after periods of suspension, and both sides have spoken of the need to manage competition responsibly. However, mutual suspicion persists, particularly over flashpoints such as Taiwan, maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and alignments among major powers in Asia.
On ties between Washington and New Delhi, Chinese officials have avoided direct criticism but have reiterated that regional stability should not be undermined by exclusive blocs or alliances. Lin said China respects the sovereign choices of other countries in developing external relations, while opposing actions that, in Beijing’s view, target or contain third parties.