| Qian Lihua, Director General of the Ministry of National Defense's Foreign Affairs Office, spoke to People's Daily about China's National Defense 2010 white paper on March 31, the day the document was released. Excerpts follow:
People's Daily: China's National Defense 2010, the seventh national defense white paper the Chinese Government has issued since 1998, drew widespread attention both at home and abroad on its release. Could you elaborate on its background and purposes?
Qian Lihua: The international situation has undergone profound and complex changes in recent years. It has become a universal belief the international community should make joint efforts to cope with the global financial crisis and seek win-win results, like passengers in the same boat. Coordination and cooperation among countries have strengthened. At the same time, global challenges have become more prominent. While security threats grow more integrated, complicated and volatile, international strategic competition has heightened. Domestically, China has fulfilled its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10), leading to a further increase in comprehensive national strength, a continued rise in its international standing and influence and notable progress in the modernization of its national defense and armed forces.
Given the growing interaction between domestic and international factors, the global community has shown a keen interest in China's national defense and military development. Misunderstandings and suspicions have also increased. Critics have even claimed China is changing the defensive nature of its national defense policy. Against this background, the Chinese Government issued China's National Defense 2010 white paper. The document aims to set out China's strategic judgment of the international security situation, publicize progress in China's national defense and military development and demonstrate the country's firm determination to follow the path of peaceful development and uphold its defensive national defense policy. It will help enhance trust, eliminate suspicion and foster a security environment centered on mutual trust and cooperation.
Every national defense white paper is considered a proof of the Chinese military's openness and transparency. Compared with the previous six white papers, what new features does the 2010 white paper have?
Every national defense white paper has new features. They have illustrated the Chinese military's commitment to opening up and cooperation as well as its willingness to take the initiative in enhancing transparency. The 2010 white paper redefined the goals and tasks of China's national defense, which were first put forward in the 2002 white paper. The changes reflected the new requirements for maintaining national security and development at present and in the years to come.
The 2010 white paper touched on the following six issues for the first time:
? A military security mechanism across the Taiwan Straits. "The two sides can hold contacts and exchanges on military issues at an appropriate time and talk about a military security mechanism of mutual trust, in a bid to act together to adopt measures to further stabilize cross-Straits relations and ease concerns regarding military security," said the white paper.
? Diversified deployment of Chinese armed forces in peaceful times. In this regard, the white paper highlighted seven areas: safeguarding border, coastal and territorial air security; maintaining social stability; participating in national construction, emergency rescue and disaster relief; participating in UN peacekeeping operations; conducting escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia; holding joint military exercises and training with other countries; and participating in international disaster relief operations. It underlined the military's pivotal role in safeguarding national security and interests of national development, protecting people's interests, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
? History of the modernization of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
? The PLA's efforts to build joint operations systems.
? The Chinese military's recent efforts to develop a military legal system, implement laws and regulations and improve the military judicial system.
? Goals and principles for building military confidence with other countries as well as the PLA's practices in this respect in recent years.
China's explosive development has sparked concerns in the global community. How has the white paper helped address these concerns?
One of the major purposes of China's national defense white papers is to enhance trust and dispel misunderstandings. Great achievements since reform and opening up began in the late 1970s have shown peace, openness, cooperation and harmony are distinctive characteristics of China's development. China's economic growth and national defense development will contribute to international and regional prosperity and stability. The 2010 white paper said China, as a responsible country, is committed to peaceful development by "connecting the fundamental interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of other peoples around the globe, connecting China's development with that of the world and connecting China's security with world peace."
In the chapter titled "National Defense Policy," the white paper said, "The pursuit of a national defense policy which is defensive in nature is determined by China's development path, its fundamental aims, its foreign policy, and its historical and cultural traditions." In the chapter titled "Military Confidence-Building," it said China works to promote the establishment of "equal, mutually beneficial and effective mechanisms for military confidence-building." Other chapters also demonstrated the Chinese military's positive stance toward building confidence through opening up, ensuring security through cooperation and seeking development in keeping with the win-win concept. These statements have not only addressed international concerns from different perspectives but also refuted the "China threat" theory.
How would you interpret the significance of China's national defense white papers?
As authoritative government documents, national defense white papers provide an important channel for other countries to learn about China's security strategy and national defense policy and the modernization of its national defense and armed forces. They play a crucial role in clarifying China's policies, promoting mutual understanding and addressing concerns. Many countries refer to China's defense white papers as important documents when studying China's national defense policy and military strategy. Foreign academic institutions and scholars have conducted in-depth research on these white papers. Most countries have commented positively on China's national defense white papers, recognizing their authoritativeness, objectivity and continuity.
The documents have also given Chinese people a picture of China's national defense modernization. Many government agencies and universities in China use them as textbooks for national defense education. In this sense, the white papers have contributed to improving national defense education, raising awareness of national defense and soliciting public support for national defense.
China has boosted military exchanges with other countries in an increasing number of areas. What role have these exchanges played in deepening military mutual trust with other countries?
In an era of globalization, strengthened mutual trust and cooperation are indispensible to countries' joint efforts to cope with global challenges. While advocating the new security concepts of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, China gives prominence to military confidence-building. Bolstering mutual confidence is one of the major purposes of the Chinese military's international exchanges and cooperation.
In recent years, China has redoubled its efforts to develop military relations with major world powers, expand military cooperation with neighboring countries and deepen military exchanges with other developing countries. Mutual confidence between the Chinese military and its foreign counterparts has been enhanced. To date, the PLA has carried out 47 joint military exercises and training sessions with foreign armed forces. It has invited foreign military observers and military attaches in foreign embassies to observe a number of Chinese military exercises. The PLA has sent officials to observe foreign military exercises as well. All these initiatives have contributed to promoting mutual trust and friendly cooperation.
To explore further channels for military confidence-building, China has taken measures such as high-level visits, strategic consultations and dialogues, border area confidence-building, maritime security dialogues and cooperation, regional security cooperation, cultural exchanges with foreign armed forces and the establishment of military hotlines. In the future, while upholding China's vision of promoting world harmony, the Chinese military will continue to expand exchanges, deepen cooperation, strengthen mutual trust and safeguard world peace and security with the armed forces of other countries. |
