China Tuesday issued a white paper on national defence, elaborating on its new security challenges in times of peace and the diversified employment of its armed forces to cope with these challenges.
The document, the eighth of its kind to be issued by the Chinese government since 1998, warns that the Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers, reported Xinhua.
‘The United States is adjusting its Asia-Pacific security strategy, and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes,’ the white paper said.
President Xi Jinping once said a strong military is needed for the realization of the Chinese dream, the great rejuvenation of the nation.
Fundamentally, the diversified employment of the armed forces is meant to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and development interests, as well as provide firm security guarantees for the realisation of the Chinese dream, said Chen Zhou, a senior research fellow with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Military Science Academy.
Chen, who participated in compiling the white paper, said China always insists on a peaceful path of development, but will also never relinquish its legitimate rights. ‘China will never trade sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, which are its core interests,’ said Chen.
The paper warns that China still faces multiple and complicated security threats and challenges.
Some country has strengthened its Asia-Pacific military alliances, expanded its military presence in the region and frequently makes the situation there more tense, the paper says, without naming a specific country.
The paper notes that on issues concerning China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighbouring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands.
The threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism are on the rise, while serious natural disasters and public health incidents keep occurring.
‘Factors affecting social harmony and stability are growing in number, and the security risks to China's overseas interests are on the increase,’ it says. China has an arduous task in safeguarding its national unification, it added.
The document, the eighth of its kind to be issued by the Chinese government since 1998, warns that the Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interaction between major powers, reported Xinhua.
‘The United States is adjusting its Asia-Pacific security strategy, and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes,’ the white paper said.
President Xi Jinping once said a strong military is needed for the realization of the Chinese dream, the great rejuvenation of the nation.
Fundamentally, the diversified employment of the armed forces is meant to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and development interests, as well as provide firm security guarantees for the realisation of the Chinese dream, said Chen Zhou, a senior research fellow with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Military Science Academy.
Chen, who participated in compiling the white paper, said China always insists on a peaceful path of development, but will also never relinquish its legitimate rights. ‘China will never trade sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, which are its core interests,’ said Chen.
The paper warns that China still faces multiple and complicated security threats and challenges.
Some country has strengthened its Asia-Pacific military alliances, expanded its military presence in the region and frequently makes the situation there more tense, the paper says, without naming a specific country.
The paper notes that on issues concerning China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighbouring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands.
The threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism are on the rise, while serious natural disasters and public health incidents keep occurring.
‘Factors affecting social harmony and stability are growing in number, and the security risks to China's overseas interests are on the increase,’ it says. China has an arduous task in safeguarding its national unification, it added.