US is world's No 1 bully, defense ministry says

When it comes to bullying in international relations, the United States is the undisputed initiator and master, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

The spokesman, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, made the remarks at a news conference in response to some comments made by US senior military officials.

In early May, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described so-called "countering aggression and bullying from China" as a "pacing challenge". And recently, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said China and Russia are countries "who fully intend to change the current rule-based order".

"The US's comments have, as always, showed strong Cold War mentality, a hegemony mindset and its worries about the rise of China," Wu said, stressing that the US is the one who is "bullying" and "violating rule-based international order".

Wu listed several examples.

"The US brazenly invaded Iraq, which is a sovereign state, causing a large number of civilian casualties, based on a bottle of white powder as evidence," the spokesman said.

He also cited US military interference in the internal affairs of Syria based on a fake video, resulting in humanitarian disaster.

Furthermore, "the Chinese people will never forget the US-led NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in former Yugoslavia," he said. "That was not only bullying, but also a crime."

Wu added the US only obeys international laws and rules that serve its own interests.

"The US's withdrawals from agreements, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Treaty on Open Skies, fully demonstrates its selfishness and hypocrisy," he said. "The US is the most unqualified country to blame others in terms of abiding by international order."

He also urged the US side to stop promoting its hegemony and to recognize China's peaceful development objectively and rationally. "It will benefit China-US relations as well as peace and stability in the world," he added.