China criticizes Democrats' report for hyping up 'China threat' narrative

China's Foreign Ministry expressed opposition on Friday to a report authored by the Democrats in the United States for hyping up the so-called China threat narrative, stressing that Beijing has no intention to and will not compete with any other country over influence.

The report, released on Monday by Democratic members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, describes China as a "strategic challenge distinct from any in our nation's history" with a "long-term strategy to unseat the US as the world's leading superpower".

The report is filled with Cold War mentality and hypes major country competition to contain and suppress China, the ministry's spokesman Lin Jian said.

China follows an independent foreign policy of peace and always acts as a positive and stable force for good, he told a daily news briefing.

"We never engage in malicious competition or major country confrontation and have no intention to replace or challenge others," he said.

Lin urged relevant US personnel to foster a right perception of China and view China and China-US relations in an objective and rational way.

Relevant US personnel should also stop attacking, smearing or containing China, and instead contribute more to a steady, sound and sustainable development of bilateral relationship, he added.