China has lodged a formal protest with the United States after President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 into law on Monday. The act includes several provisions that Beijing considers “negative China-related content.”
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed China’s strong dissatisfaction with the NDAA. “The U.S. has been exaggerating the so-called ‘China threat’ year after year,” she said. “It has promoted military support to Taiwan, suppressed China’s scientific, technological, and economic development, and restricted exchanges between our two countries.”
Mao urged the United States to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias. She called on Washington to view China’s development and China-U.S. relations objectively and to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués.
“We urge the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan, stop politicizing and weaponizing science and technology, and stop using excuses to increase military spending and maintain hegemony,” Mao stated. “China will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard our sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
The NDAA outlines the budget and expenditures for the U.S. Department of Defense and often includes policy statements. China’s protest highlights ongoing tensions between the two nations over issues like Taiwan, trade, and technology.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
