Beijing: As tensions grow over territory in the South China Sea, China has signalled ambitions for a greater naval presence further from its shores with the unveiling of a new military strategy white paper.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, a spokesman for China's Defence Ministry, Yang Yujun, denied the timing of the paper's release had any connection with the ongoing spat with the United States, which flew a surveillance plane last Wednesday over the reef and rock formations where China is carrying out extensive land reclamation and building in the disputed waters.
But the white paper bluntly warns against countries who it considered were "busy meddling" in the South China Sea.
"A tiny few maintain constant close-in air and sea surveillance and reconnaissance against China," the white paper said. "It is thus a long-standing task for China to safeguard its maritime rights and interests."
The paper, released by China's State Council, said the People's Liberation Army Navy would gradually expand its "offshore waters defence" to include "open seas protection".
It said it would adopt an "active defence" military strategy and speed up the development of a "cyber force" which would enhance its capabilities in the event of being targeted by cyber attack.
The paper also indirectly cites Australia's strengthening military alliance with the US as an issue of concern, in the context of the US continuing to enhance its military presence and alliances in the Asian region as part of its "rebalancing" strategy toward the Asia-Pacific.
Senior Pentagon official David Shear said earlier this month that US B-1 bombers would be moved to Darwin as part of a growing US military response to Chinese land reclamation and infrastructure building in the South China Sea.
This was swiftly denied by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who said the official had "misspoke", while also denying that any military cooperation with the US was directed against China.
Australia's own defence white paper, expected to be released in the next month, will be closely watched in Beijing for its language on the South China Sea as well as the East China Sea, where China is involved in a dispute with Japan over the sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.
Beijing reserved especially pointed criticism for Tokyo's increased military spending, which in turn has been a response to concerns over China's rapid military expansion.
"Japan is sparing no effort to dodge the postwar mechanism, overhauling its military and security policies," the paper said.
China's military white paper repeatedly referred to the "Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation" – an aspirational slogan popularised by President Xi Jinping – as a motivating factor behind its rapidly modernising and expanding military might.
The white paper reiterated China's "adherence to peaceful development" and said its policy was "we will not attack unless we are attacked, but we will surely counterattack if attacked".
"China's national defence policy has never changed," Colonel Yang said on Tuesday. "China will never claim hegemony or seek hegemony. This is a solemn and serious promise of Chinese government to the international society."
