This undated photo shows Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense. (ZHU XINGXIN / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)

A Chinese defense ministry spokesman on Wednesday slammed attempts by some United States politicians to shift blame and deflect responsibility by running a smear campaign against China to cover up their own country's poor COVID-19 response.

For China and the US, both important countries in the world, cooperation is the only right choice.

Wu Qian, a Chinese defense ministry spokesman 

Speaking at a press conference here, spokesman Wu Qian expressed strong dissatisfaction with, and firm opposition to, recent moves by US defense department leaders to play up the so-called "China threat," sow discord in the region, and stigmatize China's anti-epidemic efforts in total disregard of facts.

The situation in the East and South China Seas is generally stable, Wu said.

However, the US, a country outside the region, has sent military vessels and aircraft to the East and South China Seas, in a series of provocations, to carry out frequent, close-in reconnaissance against China and conduct highly targeted military exercises.

These actions have seriously endangered the sovereignty and security interests of countries in the region and undermined regional peace and stability, he said. 

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For China and the US, both important countries in the world, cooperation is the only right choice, Wu said, expressing hope that the United States will meet China halfway to add positive factors to the China-US relationship featuring coordination, cooperation, and stability. 

Taiwan interactions

In response to a question about the recent frequent interactions between the US and China's Taiwan, Wu said the "salami slicing" attempts made by the US to undermine China's sovereignty are a "sheer pipe dream."

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Noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no external interference, Wu said the Chinese People's Liberation Army has been on high alert, and has the firm resolve, full confidence and sufficient capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 

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