Sha Zukang makes a point during a media briefing in Beijing (File photo)

China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says the United States should "shut up" about his country's military spending.

Sha Zukang was responding Thursday to a BBC interviewer. The interviewer had asked him about U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's assertion that much of China's military spending is concealed.

Sha said the United States should keep quiet and not dictate policy to China. He said the United States itself accounts for half of the world's military spending.

He also said China would sacrifice lives if Taiwan declares independence. He said for China, one inch of territory is more valuable than the lives of its people. He added China has a sacred duty to defend its state sovereignty.