In 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao had to answer a series of sensitive questions involving China's increased military spending, the road to democracy, the Dalai Lama, and even a question about disgraced former Premier Zhao Ziyang. When answering a question from a reporter from "The Wall Street Journal", Wen said China would like to reduce its trade surplus, but reassured the United States that the current trade imbalance will not destabilize U.S. currency values. Wen recognized the systematic problems facing the Chinese economic system. Wen reiterated the official stance that China is opposed to the weaponization of space, and that the Chinese military build-up is purely for domestic rather than for offensive purposes. On the issue of the Dalai Lama, Wen said China's government is open to dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama as long as he gives up efforts for Tibetan independence. In reply to a question about democracy from a French reporter, Wen reiterated the age-old CCP maxim that "different states have different backgrounds, therefore democracy must be achieved based on different timelines". Wen did concede, however, that more democracy is required in the current system to combat rising corruption.