Chinese military will not dance to US tune, nor will acquiesce to its reckless behavior: Spokesman

The Chinese military will not dance to the United States' tune and will not acquiesce to its reckless behavior, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told a news briefing on Thursday.

Wu said China-US relations are facing an "unusually severe and complicated situation" in the period since the establishment of formal relations, which happened in the late 1970s. For some time, the US has kept stirring up trouble and provocations, seriously undermining China's sovereignty and security, as well as military-to-military relations and bilateral ties, he said.

"China will not dance to the US' tune, nor will we acquiesce to its reckless behavior," he said, adding the China will take "forceful measures" to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests.

"We hope the US can genuinely expand its strategic vision, view China's development with rationality and an open mind, and pull itself out of the swamp of anxiety and paranoia," Wu said.

It is very important for the two militaries to maintain communication, Wu said. Both sides should enhance dialogue and prevent risks, and work together to maintain stable relations, he added.

In response to a question about a possible visit to China by US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper later this year, Wu said the defense departments of both countries are still in contact and coordinating the event.

"We hope the US side can take concrete actions, and create a positive atmosphere for the visit," he said.