The Ministry of National Defense has said the commander of US forces in the Pacific is trying to secure an increased defense budget by accusing China of "seeking hegemony" in the region.

Admiral Harry Harris said at a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing this week, "China seeks hegemony in East Asia" and a change of "the operational landscape".

Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told a scheduled news conference on Thursday that Harris had the right to ask for a budget increase, and China would not seek to intervene on this.