Having a retrospective view of Chinese defense history helps
people gain a clear picture about the development and evolution of
China's defense strategy over the last 58 years since the People's
Republic of China was founded in 1949.
Upon its founding, New China, facing internal problems and
possible foreign invasion, adopted a foreign policy of "siding with
the Soviet Union" and adopted a defense strategy of consolidating
national defense, opposing aggression, and winning peace. In the
early 1950s, Chinese troops were committed to the Korean War
(1950-53), known in China as the War to Resist US Aggression and
Aid Korea.
In 1953, the People's Liberation Army began to embark on the
road to modernization. In 1956, the top authorities decided to
embrace an active defense strategy that regarded the United States
as the potential foe and emphasized defense against possible
attacks launched by US troops against China's southeastern coastal
areas.
Starting from the mid-1960s, the country's military strategic
priority began to shift to "preparing for a precipitated war, for a
full-fledged war and for a nuclear war", owing to the deterioration
of the security situation at the time.
The country was bracing itself for oncoming assaults launched
simultaneously by "the US imperialists, the Soviet revisionists and
Indian reactionaries", which meant a two-front or multi-front
war.
Upon entering the 1970s, the focus of the nation's military
strategy was geared to staving off a massive Soviet invasion and,
accordingly, the Northeast, North and Northwest regions of China
became strategic focal grounds.
The nationwide efforts to step up combat readiness played a
positive role in coping with military threats from outside at the
time. But the whole country and the army, in a constant state of
combat readiness, put a great strain on the economy and the
long-term development of national defense.
Peace and development became the central theme of the times as
the world entered the 1970s.
Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening
up, made an incisive strategic judgment in 1985: it is possible
that no full-fledged world war will break out for a fairly long
time to come.
Based on this strategic judgment, the country's military
strategy was overhauled, switching from "preparing for a
precipitated war, a full-fledged war and a nuclear war" to serving
the country's goals in peaceful times.
In 1988, the Central Military Commission implemented another
active-defense military strategy that involved serving the nation's
bid for economic development and coping with local wars or military
conflicts.
During this period, the People's Liberation Army shed one
million men and women.
In 1993, the Central Military Commission mapped out still
another active-defense military strategy, focusing on winning
high-tech local wars and shifting the strategic focal grounds from
China's Northeast, North and Northwest regions to the Southeast
coastal areas. It emphasized the quality of the armed forces,
improvement of the capability to cope with emergencies, exercise of
flexible and yet correct strategic command and prevent major
"Taiwan independence" incidents from happening.
Upon entering the new century, peace, development and
cooperation were the trend of the times. In general, the
international security situation remained stable, though
destabilizing factors were on the rise. China faced a favorable
security situation but was also confronted with various new
challenges.
In order to cope with the changing situation and meet national
security needs, President Hu Jintao proposed that the armed forces
help provide security guarantee for the development opportunity the
country is now enjoying, and offer firm strategic support for the
country's national interests.
The concept of scientific development today runs throughout
China's defense policy, which emphasizes safeguarding national
security and unification, ensuring smooth economic development,
enhancing the quality of the armed forces, implementing an
active-defense military strategy, adhering to a defensive nuclear
strategy and helping bring about a security climate favorable to
the country's peaceful development.
The Chinese armed forces will raise its capabilities of coping
with various security threats, remain able to handle crises under
complex circumstances, safeguard peace, stave off wars and win wars
if necessary. We never conceal our determination and intention to
make the Chinese armed forces powerful. But at the same time, we
make it clear to the world that China will forever pursue an
active-defense strategy; that the Chinese armed forces'
modernization is out of the necessity of protecting its national
security and economic development and will never pose a threat to
any other country.
(China Daily July 31, 2007)