Beijing, June 3 : China has reacted sharply toIndia’s charge of a Chinese military build-up and termed as “irresponsible” New Delhi’s objection to the “normal” military cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad.

Asked to comment on the Ministry of Defence annual reportfor the year 2000-2001, released last Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao offered a three-part answer.

“Attempting to seek an excuse to develop the military isnot wise. Secondly, the Chinese stand on the Indian nuclear issue is known to all,” Zhu said referring to India’s May, 1998 underground nuclear tests.
Moreover, he asserted that the China-Pakistan militarycooperation is ’normal’.

“For no reason, finding fault is irresponsible,” thespokesman said referring to repeated statements from the Chinese leadership that Sino-Pakistani military cooperation did not violate Beijing’s commitments to the international community.

The MoD annual report had pointed out that China isworking towards the goal of achieving ’super power’ status in the new millennium and rapidly modernising its armed forces.

“Every major Indian city is within reach of the Chinesemissiles and it is reported that this capability is being further augmented to include Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM),” the MoD report said,“The asymmetry in terms of nuclear forces is strongly infavour of China which additionally has helped Pakistan to build missile and nuclear capability,” it said. (PTI)