China Daily:

The new white paper on national defense stresses Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy. Could you please tell us the background and significance of the formation of this important thinking? What are its theoretical characteristics and historical contributions?

Cai Zhijun:

Thank you for your questions. Military strategic thinking is the banner that guides an army, and it should keep up with the times. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, President Xi, in his dedicated leadership of national defense, the building of our armed forces, and commanding actual military campaigns, has taken a broad view of the profound changes in the world not seen for a long time to deal with various risks and challenges involved in ensuring national security and meet the requirements of comprehensively building Chinese military into a world-class force. He has put forward a series of new ideas, viewpoints, judgments and requirements to enhance military strategic guidance as required by the times. Against this background, Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy has taken shape. Xi, as the core of Party leadership and as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is the main architect of this important thinking, and plays a decisive role in this process.

Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy has always adhered to the strategic concept of active defense. It has profoundly revealed the important relationship between war and peace, military affairs and politics, national security and military security in the new era. It has comprehensively and systematically answered a series of fundamental, overarching and directionally important questions related to military strategic guidance in the new era. The important thinking is an innovative development of the Marxist view of war and methodology in China's national defense and armed forces building in the new era. It is the application and development of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is an important part of Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military. It is a scientific ideological and theoretical system.

Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy has distinct scientific qualities. First and most important, in terms of theory, it inherits and develops the essence of the Party's military guidance theory, and is the latest achievement in adapting the Marxist view of war and its methodology to a Chinese context. Second, from an historical viewpoint, it seizes the right moment when socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and China's national defense and armed forces building has followed suit. Third, from a strategic viewpoint, it grasps the laws of waging war and directing war, endowing the strategic concept of active defense with new connotations. Fourth, from a practical viewpoint, a great truth emerges from the great practice of strengthening and revitalizing the armed forces, so it has a unique strategic style and insight.

Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy has established a new realm in the Marxist view of war and security. It enhances the strategic drive of realizing the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation. It breaks new grounds for implementing national security strategy. It broadens our vision of modernizing national defense and armed forces. The thinking is a fundamental rule and scientific guidance for using and building our military forces at present and in the future. At the military work conference of the Central Military Commission held in Beijing in January 2019, Xi Jinping's thinking on military strategy was established as the fundamental guiding ideology of China's military strategy in the new era. The decision is based on political, practical and strategic needs. It is also is also the common expectation of the whole army. Thank you.