A Chinese defense official has said China's rising military strength is not a threat as it is seeking to improve political trust with foreign forces through exchanges and joint military exercises.
   
"China holds a defensive policy. We'll never take part in any military bloc and never station any military force overseas," said Qian Lihua, deputy director of the ministry's Foreign Affairs Office, in an interview with China Central Television.
   
He cited Sino-U.S. joint military exercises in November, the first in the two countries' history, as proof of the lack of evidence for U.S. accusations of a lack of transparency in China's military.
   
China had received 23 U.S. military delegations and sent 18 delegations to the United States this year, he said.
   
It had also opened to U.S. delegations some exclusive military zones, including the headquarters of the East China Sea fleet of the Navy Force of the People's Liberation Army.
   
"It's baseless and unreasonable to say China's military is not transparent enough," he said, highlighting that any country, including the most developed, was not totally transparent on military issues in order to protect their security interests.
   
Besides the United States, China had also conducted military exercises with Britain, France, Pakistan, India, Australia and Thailand.
   
"The purpose is to enhance mutual understanding and build mutual political trust," said Qian.