China silent on reports of nuke submarine base

China on Tuesday remained silent on reports it was building a major underground nuclear submarine base but insisted its military posed no threat to any country, a day after India voiced apprehensions over the build-up.

Beijing also stoutly defended its right to protect its maritime and territorial interests.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a bi-weekly media briefing would not confirm nor deny the existence of the base when asked about reports in this regard but said China's military posed no threat to the world.

"There is no need for the Western countries to be worried, or concerned, or make any irresponsible accusations," Qin said, adding "China's national defence and military building will not pose a threat to any countries."

"We have a vast territorial sea. It is the sacred duty of the Chinese army to safeguard our security on sea, the sovereignty of our territorial sea and maritime rights and interests," he said.

"China follows the path of peaceful development and pursues a national defence policy which is defensive in nature. China will always be the backbone of world peace."

India's Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mehta while reacting to the development said it was a "cause for security concern".

"It is not the nuclear submarine bases that matter, we are concerned over the number of nuclear submarines that are being built in our neighbourhood," he said on Monday.

Britain's Daily Telegraph while reporting on the base called it a "vast, James Bond-style edifice capable of concealing up to 20 nuclear-powered submarines and which will enable China to project its power across the region.

The base being built near the holiday resort of Sanya on southern China's Hainan island posed a major threat to Asian countries and US interests in the region, it said.