Han Bin
CCTV.com 05-26-2015
China has issued its 2015 White Paper on national defense, elaborating
on its military strategy and security concept. It says the country will
adhere to an active defense strategy, to effectively deter threats and
better protect its national interests. The document also lays out the
developing trend of its military capabilities.
China’s military build ups and activities and its military intentions
and directions are often under close watch by the world. The Chinese
military wants to explain what is behind the development and what is to
come.
"This paper is highly strategic and comprehensive with a
focus on China's present military strategy and its orientation in the
future," said Yang Yujun, Chinese Ministry of National Defense
spokesman.
The military is undergoing deep transformations under
the new leadership. It is speeding up modernization with high-tech
weaponry and information technology, fast integrating its land, naval
and air forces. And it has increased regular blue water missions and
become more active in international security cooperation.
The
White Paper explains the components of its Active Defense Policy and the
impact on the ever-changing role of the armed forces under a new
security environment.
"China's armed forces will implement the
military strategic guideline of active defense in the new environment.
The paper stresses far-sighted planning and management, creating
favorable positions, comprehensively managing crises, and deterring and
winning wars," Yang said.
The White Paper comes at a time of
rising tensions in the South China Sea and louder criticism of China’s
military build up. President Xi Jinping has called for strengthening the
army and its capabilities to prepare it for a win in the event of
conflict.
China says its military is still defensive in nature, yet it is becoming more active in protecting its interests.
Leaders
believe China faces complex and diverse security challenges in
protecting its sovereignty. And the military must adjust to the changing
situation to better protect peace and stability.
This is the
ninth White Paper on this subject. Unlike the previous ones, which
focused mainly on what the PLA has been doing, this new document is
concentrating on its future development. Many say the greater
transparency of this intention of the Chinese army may signal both its
growing confidence and its willingness to play a more active role on the
world stage.
