BEIJING - The Defense Ministry on Friday voiced "strong dissatisfaction" and "firm opposition" to a newly-released annual report by the Pentagon on China's military.

"China has lodged solemn representations with the US side," said Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun in a statement on the report.

The report, titled "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China," was unveiled by the US Department of Defense on August 24.

"The report does not hold water as it severely distorted the facts," Yang said.

He said the report turned a blind eye to facts and played up the so-called Chinese mainland's "military threat" to Taiwan, and made groundless claims on China's policies on space and network security.

"China unswervingly adheres to the path of peaceful development, and its national defense policy is defensive in nature," Yang said.

He said China's defense building "is solely to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure smooth economic and social development, and does not target any country".

"Given the progress of science and technology, it's normal for the Chinese army to develop and renew some weapons and equipment," Yang said.

He added the Chinese army had increased its opening-up to the outside world, while actively conducting exchanges and cooperation with foreign armies, and always endeavored to protect global and regional stability.

The US releasing the report did not conform with the consensus by the two state leaders on building a cooperative partnership of mutual respect and mutual benefit, the positive development momentum of bilateral military ties, and the sound development momentum of the cross-Strait relations between Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Yang said.

"China demands that the US side views China's military development in an objective and fair manner," Yang said.