China refutes U.S. slandering of China's military-civilian integration policy

China on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the U.S.' repeated hyping and slandering against China's military-civilian integration policy.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Ford on Monday posted an article on the U.S. Department of State website, saying China's "military-civil fusion" policy brings a national security challenge and a threat to the U.S. and other countries.

It is a customary international practice to promote integrated development of military and civilian sectors, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang told a news briefing, adding that the U.S. is no exception.

"As I know, the U.S. Defense Department and military conduct various cooperation projects with American universities, RD institutions and private companies. Some American multinational companies are the 'military-civil fusion' per se, as their business operations and products cover both ends."

Geng said China's military-civilian integration policy is aimed at effectively mobilizing military resources, coordinating economic and social development with national defense development, and benefiting the public with scientific and technological progress.

"This policy is aboveboard. There is no such a thing as 'theft' or 'diversion' of foreign technology," he said.

Some U.S. officials distorted China's military-civilian integration policy in malicious disregard for facts and seek to place a technological embargo on China under this pretext, thus disrupting and impeding normal economic, trade and technological cooperation between China and other countries, he said.

This practice, born out of Cold-War mentality, contravenes the spirit of international cooperation and the trend of the times. It undermines the interests of China, the U.S. and the common interests of all, Geng said.

"As for the U.S. claim that China poses a threat to global security, I'd like to point out that according to a Pew Research Center survey in February last year, 45 percent of the surveyed believe the U.S. poses a grave threat to the world."

China urges the U.S. to adopt a responsible attitude, stop its malicious accusations and slanders against China, take an objective view on China's military-civilian integration policy, and make more efforts to promote instead of undermining China-U.S. relations and international cooperation, he said.