The US Department of Defense released its annual report on Chinese military development on May 7. The latest report, like its predecessors, plays up the Chinese military as a threat, which is groundless, says an editorial in People’s Daily. Excerpts:

The report challenges the validity of China’s Diaoyu Islands baseline. Despite its self-proclaimed neutral stance on the Diaoyu Islands dispute, the US falsely accuses China of using improperly drawn straight baseline claims around the Diaoyu Islands. The report also says that China’s nine-dash line in the South China Sea is a source of concern in the region. By doing so, the US actually sends the wrong signal to other claimant countries and disrupts regional stability.

Speaking of cyber-security, the report claims that last year, numerous computer systems worldwide, including those owned by the US government, continued to be targeted for hacking, which appears to be directed by the Chinese government and military. Like some previous reports by the US government and think tanks, the latest one simply accuses but fails to furnish any concrete proof. The US’ intention here is to make up a cyber-security threat from China in a bid to enhance its buildup of cyber-weapons and maintain its cyber-hegemony.

In recent years, the US has remained positive about building a new great-power relationship with China. The US should realize that the malicious speculations and false accusations it has made against China will compromise the hard-built trust between the two countries.