Mark Esper Photo: Xinhua

China has never intended to provoke or replace anyone, and the US has made a strategic mistake by treating China as an opponent, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response to US Defense Secretary Mark Esper's call for stronger alliances to counter China and Russia. 

China has no intention of provoking or replacing anyone, and is most concerned about the welfare of its people, national rejuvenation and world peace and stability, Zhao said at the press conference on Wednesday, noting that the US has made a strategic misjudgment by treating China as an opponent.

Zhao made the remarks after Esper on Tuesday called for US alliances with "like-minded democracies" to be strengthened and expanded to counter Russia and China. 

"China and Russia probably have fewer than 10 allies combined," he said, noting that "America's network of allies and partners provides us an asymmetric advantage our adversaries cannot match."

Zhao said that China's policy toward the US has been steady and consistent. We urge some US politicians to discard the outmoded Cold War and zero-sum mentality, and view relations between China and the US, and Russia and the US in a rational way, Zhao noted.

Global Times