For more on the defense report, CGTN correspondent Han Bin had an exclusive interview with Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, the Director of the Center for International Security Cooperation from the Ministry of National Defense. He said a manageable relationship between the Chinese and American militaries benefits both sides.

HAN BIN "The paper comes amid the China-US trade war, and military confrontations between the sides. What message do you think this paper intends to send to the US?"

SR. COLONEL ZHOU BO, DIRECTOR CENTER FOR INTL. SECURITY COOPERATION, CMND "Trade war is one thing, but military relationship during trade war probably is becoming more important, therefore a sound and stable and manageable military relationship between China and US would be more important. Neither China nor US wish to have a conflict. The only question is how can we work together to make our relationship manageable. For example, the US has conducted so many FON of operations in the waters of China's islands and rocks, so they believe this is a kind of right authorized by UN conventional law oversea. So what about PLA navy, when PLA navy becomes stronger, will it behave like US navy, I don't think so."

HAN BIN "The paper is more a statement of strategy than tactics. How can China and the US avoid a military conflict when it comes to a confrontation, like what the US calls freedom of navigation operations?"

SR. COLONEL ZHOU BO, DIRECTOR CENTER FOR INTL. SECURITY COOPERATION, CMND "We have consensus, not to have conflict, but we should really make some concrete efforts. Because the US would just keep on sending ships for this FON of operation, in fact they have increased FON operation. While they are doing all this, they believe this kind of right enshrined in international law, but we would look at this issue from another point of view, that is even in terms of international law, you have to show 'due regard to the rights and interests of relevant states'. If you keep on sending ships, plus all these close-in reconnaissance by drones, by aircraft, by satellite, is this kind of due regard? If we in China do the same thing, to continental USA , what would you think? So to avoid conflict, the best way is to refrain from such kind of behaviors, that China and US should cooperate, rather than contradicting each other on freedom of navigation. Why can't China and US, two largest economies, change the mentality, and come into cooperation?"

"Thank you."