China's military development is aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and does not target any country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Thursday.
Guo made the statement at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on Australian defense minister's remarks that China's military buildup was creating a "condition of pressure" in Southeast Asia.
"China is committed to the path of peaceful development. The development of military capabilities aims to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. We never target any country nor seek military expansion. The relevant party should view this objectively and stop making irresponsible comments," said Guo.
China's military development targets no country: spokesman
Hundreds of paddleboarders made a splash as they raced along a river in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality for the latest round of the 2026 China National Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP) U Series.
The two-day gathering was held in Chongqing's suburban Qijiang District from Oct. 24-25 and welcomed around 800 athletes to compete in a host of events.
This marked the third year in a row that Qijiang has hosted a leg of the flagship water sports event, with this year's edition also seeing kayaking and open water swimming added for the first time.
The demanding program of events saw the staging of 200-meter kayak sprints and 1,500-meter open water races, while the different age grades spanned youth categories from under-9s to under-18s, as well as open and masters' groups for more seasoned participants.
Hundreds of water sports enthusiasts race along river in Chongqing
