China, as a peace-loving nation, never engages in aggression or expansion, but will never give up our legitimate rights and interests, and will take firm countermeasures against external threats and challenges, China's Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Friday.

Zhang made the remarks during an online news briefing, expressing firm opposition to the "groundless accusation" made by the US side.

In late January, after being sworn in as the new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth made clear in a message to the US military that the country would work with allies and partners to deter "aggression in the Indo-Pacific" by China.

Zhang stressed that China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and a military strategy of active defense, noting that the Chinese military is a staunch force for peace.

The spokesman also emphasized that major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times, regarding the China-US relations.

"A steady, sound and sustained China-US diplomatic and defense relationship serves the common interests of the two countries and meets the general expectation of the international community," he said.

"Standing at a new starting point, we hope the US will work with China on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to deepen state-to-state and military-to-military exchanges and cooperation, so as to bring certainty and positive energy to the world," the official noted.