BEIJING – China’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday that it has updatedweaponry of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force for nationaldefense purposes and that it does not target any third country.

“The Rocket Force is the core of China’s strategic deterrence, the pillarto support China as a great power and the cornerstone to safeguard nationalsecurity. It is normal and necessary for the Rocket Force to develop andupdate its weaponry. And this is a normal practice of other countries tomodernize their militaries,” Ministry of National Defenselink>spokesman Ren Guoqiangtold a press conference on Thursday.

Ren’s remarks came in response to media reports on the strategic missilesowned by the Rocket Force. One report said that it was noticeable that themissiles were developed to be vehicle-mounted and launched byelectromechanical equipment and that previously they were “hidden inmountainous areas” with low mobility.

A PLA Rocket Force brigade conducted a drill in an effort to enhance themobility of the force and soldiers’ ability to accurately operate weaponry,the PLA Daily reported on Monday.

The PLA Daily report also noted that the informatization of nuclear weaponsof the Rocket Force has increased and the organization of military unitshas improved.

More efforts are needed in managing and using the weaponry, it said.

“The survival ability and mobility of the strategic missiles of the RocketForce are enhanced. And these improvements are in accordance with China’spolicies on nuclear weapons,” a Beijing-based military expert who asked foranonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

The expert said that when China first gained nuclear capabilities in 1964,it was the first nation to propose and agree to the No-First-Use treaty,pledging no first use “at any time or under any circumstances.”

“China has adopted a defensive policy on developing nuclear weapons. And itis keeping its nuclear deterrence to avoid possible nuclear wars,” theexpert said.

The Rocket Force had focused on strengthening its strategic deterrence andcombat capability by modernizing weaponry that aims to safeguard nationalsecurity and does not target any third country, Ren said.

“We stick with the peaceful development path and pursue a defensivenational defense policy. We hope all parties could adopt an objectiveattitude toward China’s defense construction,” Ren said.