The White House has released a document outlining U.S. national security strategy under US President Donald Trump. The document paints China in an unfavorable light. In response, China says cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries, a win-win situation will lead to better future, but confrontation will bring mutual losses. Gary Anglebrandt has the details.

"Competitor" and "rival power". These are the words that Donald Trump's adminstration uses to describe China.

In Trump's newly-released national security strategy, China is considered a threat, that undermines U.S. national interests on all fronts.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying says any country that distorts the facts or maliciously slanders does so in vain.

HUA CHUNYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON "We urged the US side to stop intentionally distorting China's strategic intentions, to abandon outdated notions such as a Cold War mentality and zero-sum game. Otherwise, it will only harm the interests of both countries. We hope the US can keep up with the trends of the times, see China-US relations in an objective and rational way, and abide by the related commitments."

The national security strategy is seen as a vision of how Trump's "America First" agenda fits into his foreign policy goals.

This tougher stance on China comes just a month after Trump's visit to Beijing, where he toned down his rhetoric.

He now singles out Russia and China as "revisionist powers", and he says the US national interest will always come first when building ties.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "We also face rival powers Russia and China that seek to challenge American influence values and wealth. We will attempt to build a great partnership with those and other countries but in a manner that always protects our national interest."

The Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington also commented describing the US position as contradictory and saying China will always remain committed to world peace, global development and international order.

The spokesperson added that how China and the US see each other, and define their bilateral relations, is relevant to the welfare of the two peoples and the international community. Gary Anglebrandt, CGTN.