Fact-check: Chinese military threat? What to know about China's military development (3)

Is China pursuing military dominance to reshape the global order?

China has always been a staunch advocate of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. It has consistently pursued a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and a military strategy of active defense. China's military development aims to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and does not target any other country. The expansion of China's military power is nothing less than the growth of global forces for peace. No matter how much defense expenditure is invested or how modernized its armed forces are, China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence.

In stark contrast, the history of the United States is characterized by violence and expansion. The U.S. has about 800 overseas military bases, with 173,000 troops deployed in 159 countries. The U.S. abuses its military hegemony with the wanton use of force, which has led to humanitarian tragedies. From Afghanistan to Iraq and Syria, since 2001, wars and military operations launched by the U.S. under the guise of fighting terrorism have claimed over 900,000 lives and created 37 million refugees around the world.