TOKYO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday smeared China of "military aggression" and "predatory economics." Such absurd remarks are riddled with typical U.S. arrogance and hypocrisy.

The new Pentagon chief made the comments in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his first overseas trip since taking office last month.

In today's world, which country is the promoter of peace and development and which country is the troublemaker that is causing turbulence around the world? Who is the defender of international order and who discards international rules willfully? Facts are the strongest evidence.

China has always been a peace-loving nation. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago, peace and development, cooperation and win-win progress have been the themes of China's diplomacy.

In this new era of growing global interconnectedness, China remains firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, pursues a win-win strategy of opening-up, and actively promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China has made solid efforts for and positive contributions to peace and development of mankind.

Contrary to what Esper falsely called "military aggression," China has peacefully settled the boundary issues with most of its land-based neighbors and advocated peaceful settlement of disputes to help promote tranquility in the South China Sea.

For those who spread rumors of "predatory economics," they turn a blind eye to the fact that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has benefited all participating countries and people.

The United States, as the world's most powerful nation, has long claimed itself the guardian of world peace and security. Yet what the country has done has proved otherwise.

With its strong military strength, the United States either launched or supported a series of wars, leaving countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria in constant chaos and bloodshed.

In recent years, the United States has also developed a new disease -- "withdrawal addiction." It successively withdrew from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Iran nuclear deal and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Looking at political turmoils, refugee crisis and other difficulties and challenges in many parts of the world today, almost all the problems appear to be related to the United States.

But Washington seems to shy away from its due responsibilities as the sole super power and is trying to shift burdens to others.

A lie told a thousand times is still a lie. The tricks of stirring up troubles can neither change nor upend the truth.