The contents of a US annual report on China's military power was strongly resented and firmly opposed, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Wednesday.

The 2006 China Military Power Report, issued by the US Defense?Department recently, had continued to spread conjecture about "China's threat" and severely violated the principles governing international relations, said Liu when responding to press questions.?

He said the report, with a "Cold War" mentality, has exaggerated China's military power and expenditure with ulterior motives and sought to interfere in China's internal affairs.

"China is a peace-loving nation and has insisted on peaceful development with a national defense policy which is defensive in nature," said Liu. "The international community has generally acknowledged that China is an important force in promoting peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large."?

He said it was natural for China, a sovereign state, to develop its national defense strategy which was aimed at defending national security and safeguarding territorial integrity.

"Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territories," said Liu. "The Chinese government adheres? to the policy of peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," said Liu.

He said the Chinese government would exert its utmost effort and show all sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification of the motherland. However, Liu said, China wouldn't?? tolerate "Taiwan independence" and never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any shape or form.

Liu said China had urged the US to stick to its commitments of adhering to the one-China policy, abiding by the three communiques between China and the US, opposing "Taiwan independence", to refrain from selling weapons to Taiwan and not to send any misleading signals to those behind the campaign.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2006)