BEIJING - China's military hardware development is targeting no other countries and poses no threat, Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said Monday.

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Liang made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates after a US reporter asked if China wanted to counter the US military engagement in Asia by developing weapons.

Liang admitted China had made progress in building its military might and had developed weapons to meet its sovereignty and security requirements.

However, he said, China still lagged far behind developed nations in terms of weaponry and rejected claims that China's military development was a threat.

Liang said he expected other nations to objectively judge China's military development.