• Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Wednesday that the Pentagon’s latest annual report on Chinese military and security developments has overemphasized what he called a “non-existent” military threat to harm China’s security interests. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
• This comes as he expressed Beijing’s strong dissatisfaction with and stiff opposition to the recently released report, which he claims distorts the nation’s national defense policy and military strategy. XINHUA
• The Pentagon claimed in its report to Congress that China holds over 500 nuclear warheads and will likely have over 1K by 2030, adding that Beijing would use fast-breeder reactors and reprocessing facilities to generate plutonium for its nuclear weapons despite claims that the technologies are intended for peaceful purposes. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• In his response, Wu also deemed the US the “biggest disruptor of regional peace and stability” in the world, denouncing its supply of depleted uranium munitions and cluster bombs to Ukraine as well as of munitions and weapons to Israel, the deployment of its carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean, and its buildup of military installations worldwide. Independent (LR: 2 CP: 3)
• A spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office also criticized the report for allegedly being “full of all kinds of wrong content,” including a statement on the island that Beijing claims as its own territory. The latest exchange between the two superpowers comes days before the 10th Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, which will also be attended by American officials. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
• On Thursday, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will visit the US ahead of a possible meeting between US Pres. Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next month. Washington Post (LR: 2 CP: 5)

Pro-China narrative:

• The Pentagon’s report is nothing more than a stage prop used by the US to justify its hegemonic and expansive military behavior throughout the world, intended for the detriment of China. It’s the product of unverifiable media claims and rumors gathered via outdated reporting techniques, and China will continue to legitimately defend itself in the face of America’s veiled international goals.
  Chinadaily

Anti-China narrative:

• One of the few bipartisan agreements within the US political system remains that China is a rising threat. While current domestic economic concerns for China have significantly placed its ability to overtake the US under question, this doesn’t mean that Beijing should be underestimated. As Xi Jinping enters the later years of his life, now is the time to stifle any potential test of strength and judge wisely the time to consolidate American power in Asia.
  Forbes (LR: 3 CP: 5)

Nerd narrative:

• There’s a 15% chance that there will be a US-China war before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
  Metaculus (LR: 3 CP: 3)