Photo: China's Ministry of National Defense

 
Question: It’s reported that the US defense budget for fiscal year 2026 might reach $1 trillion for the first time and it would be used to enhance lethality and readiness. May I have your comments on this?

Zhang Xiaogang: We have noted relevant reports. The sky-high defense budget exposed once again the bellicose nature of the US side and its belief in “might makes right”. The US government is in heavy debt, yet it keeps pouring ill-gotten wealth exploited from other countries into manufacturing weapons. We hope the US side will break away from the obsession with hegemony at an early date and recognize that wanton use of force will not make America great again but only inflict painful disasters upon the people of the US and the rest of the world.