BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman has expressed "firm opposition" to a Pentagon report that misrepresents China's military development.

Hong Lei on Saturday said that "China's justified and normal military development" had been unjustly criticized in the US side's irresponsible remarks.

China has firmly adhered to its peaceful development path and adopted a defense policy which is defensive in nature, he said, adding that China is committed to the maintenance and promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.

The development of China's limited military force is completely concerned with safeguarding China's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and targets no other country or specific target, according to the spokesman.

"So long as a country is not hostile to China, it will show no doubt or worry over such development," he added.

China demands the United States "respect facts, change its mind-set and stop its wrongdoing in issuing similar reports year after year," and the US side "should do more to promote China-US military relations and mutual trust and cooperation, not vice versa," he said.

The US Defense Department issued the annual report "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" on May 18.