China hopes the United States will follow the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques and stop sending wrong signals to separatists in Taiwan Province, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Sunday.

Kong made the remarks in response to a question on the annual report on China's military force released by the US Defense Department which claims that the Chinese mainland is building up its military forces against Taiwan.

China hopes the US government will make constructive contribution to the realization of peaceful reunification of China,he added.

Kong said that as a peace-loving country, China has carried outa defensive military policy and has never taken part in the arms race.

China's defense budget is the lowest among the world's major countries, Kong said.

The development of China has not only benefited the Chinese people but also contributed to the peace and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world, he added.

The Chinese government has held a persistent and clear stand onthe Taiwan issue. It will adhere to the basic principles of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems", and the eight-point propositions put forward by Chinese President Jiang Zemin on the issue, Kong said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2002)