China's national defense policies and military deployments are aimed at safeguarding national security and territorial integrity, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Thursday.

Kong Quan made the remark in response to a question relating to an annual report of the Pentagon on the military power of China, which was issued on July 30.

He said China, as a sovereign state, had an independent foreign policy of peace and its national defense policy was defense-oriented.

"We will keep on marching on the road of peace and development," he said.

Some interest groups in the United States were attempting to create an excuse to sell weapons to Taiwan by overstating China's military force and expenditure and scare-mongering over the mainland's threat to Taiwan, he said.

Taiwan was an inalienable part of China's territory and the Chinese government had always adhered to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems", and would try its best to realize a peaceful reunification.

"As we can see, the growth of the 'Taiwan independence' forces is precisely the greatest threat to stability across the Taiwan Strait," Kong said.

Kong said the United States had repeatedly agreed to abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques, adhere to the one-China policy and to oppose Taiwan's independence.

"We hope the United States would effectively honor its commitments," he said. "The facts speak for themselves: the international community regards China as an active force in maintaining world peace and promoting common development."

China will make a thorough study of the European Commission's policy paper on EU-China relations, Kong said.

On September 10, the European Commission issued its policy paper for transmission to the Council and the European Parliament, the fifth of such document in nine years.

Kong said comprehensive cooperation between China and the European Union (EU) is in the fundamental interests of both sides and conducive to maintaining world peace, stability and development.

He said China praised and welcomed the EU's positive efforts in strengthening China-EU relations. China also believed both sides should promote cooperation, and enhance consultation on international and regional affairs. 

(Xinua News Agency September 12, 2003)