Beijing on Friday dismissed claims that China has been "assertive" and "a threat" when upholding its legitimate national interests, saying that such allegations either harbor ulterior motives or are ill-informed.
"China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development. At the same time, China will firmly uphold its sovereignty, security and development interests," Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun said in a speech at the 8th Lanting Forum, which was held by the ministry.
"These two things are not contradictory," he said. "What China upholds is its own legitimate rights and interests. It guards over what has always been its own. It has no intention to grab from others."
Only when China's sovereignty, security and development interests are fully secured could the country truly make steady progress along the path of peaceful development, Zhang added.
"China is a sensible country that sticks to principles. It has its red line too," he said.
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