US urged to ‘do more on peace’ as Pentagon hypes ‘China threat’ in NDIS

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the US to do more to contribute to peace and stability and not to introduce bloc confrontation, conflicts and wars into the Asia-Pacific, in response to the China-related content in the US’ first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS), which highlighted the need to reform its defense industry and team up with “IndoPacific” allies to counter China.

In the NDIS report released by the US Department of Defense on Thursday local time, the US acknowledges that a declining industrial base, supply-chain constraints and the outflow of weapons to Ukraine have left the US vulnerable.

The NDIS also recommends that the US work with “Indo-Pacific” nations to build a strong defense industrial base and production capacity to prepare for any potential future conflicts and counter China. Working with close allies to make more weapons abroad was imperative, said the report.

The US, as the world’s largest military power and the country with the highest military spending, lacks the ability to create and maintain peace, not the ability to wage war, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.

The pursuit of peace and development is the consensus of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Mao said. “The US should earnestly respect the call of regional countries, do more to contribute to peace and stability, and should not introduce confrontation, conflict and war into the Asia-Pacific.”

Experts said the US’ exposing the shortcomings of defense industry does not mean that its defense capabilities are truly weakening, as the Pentagon’s real intention seems to be targeting possible future scenarios of military conflict between major powers and strengthening armed forces preparations by hyping “China threat.”