White paper debunks 'China threat' theory

With its rapidly growing economic and military strength since the launch of reform and opening-up four decades ago, there has been a global cacophony trumpeting the "China threat" theory.

Those trying to cram this divisive idea into people's ears are troubled by the notion that the sleeping giant has awakened. Fearing that it will move the world in ways beyond their control, they seek to depict China as a threat to world peace and the existing international order, pointing accusing fingers at the country for the steady increase in its military spending and alleging it is exhibiting unwarranted assertiveness in pressing its claims in the territorial disputes it has with some of its neighbors.

All this has made it all the more imperative and necessary for China to clarify its intentions to avoid any dangerous misconceptions or misunderstandings, since history records a succession of rash acts born of mistakes, miscalculations and misjudgments.