BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) - Never seeking hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence remains the distinctive feature of China's national defense in the new era, said a spokesperson with China's Ministry of National Defense on Monday.

(File photo: Xinhua)

The spokesperson made the remarks when countering allegations that China is altering its national defense policy by continuously building up its military and taking a tougher stance when handling disputes with neighboring countries.

The spokesperson noted that China is developing its national defense and military with the sole aim of safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests. It does not target or pose a threat to any other country.

China strictly adheres to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, which is determined by its socialist system, dedication to peaceful development, foreign policy and cultural traditions, said the spokesperson, adding that China has never started a war or occupied a single piece of foreign land since the founding of the New China.

In recent years, China's military has engaged in cooperation with foreign counterparts and contributed greatly to world peace and stability. History has and will continue to prove that the Chinese military is a staunch force in maintaining world peace, said the spokesperson.