中文

Speakers:

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense;

Major General Cai Zhijun, deputy director general of the Operations Bureau of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission (CMC);

Colonel Pan Qinghua from the Publicity Bureau of the Political Work Department under the CMC;

Senior Colonel Wang Taiguo, deputy director general of the Finance Bureau of the Logistic Support Department under the CMC;

Senior Captain Wang Wei, deputy director general of the Coordination and Supervision Bureau of the Office for Reform and Organizational Structure under the CMC.

Chairperson:

Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

July 24, 2019

Hu Kaihong:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference. Today, the State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled "China's National Defense in the New Era." Here, we will introduce and explain the document's major content. 

Present at the conference are: Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense; Major General Cai Zhijun, deputy director general of the Operations Bureau of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission (CMC); Colonel Pan Qinghua from the Publicity Bureau of the CMC Political Work Department; Senior Colonel Wang Taiguo, deputy director general of the Finance Bureau under the CMC Logistic Support Department; Senior Captain Wang Wei, deputy director general of the Coordination and Supervision Bureau of the CMC Office for Reform and Organizational Structure. I'm Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the SCIO and host of this press conference.

First, I'd like to make a brief introduction of the white paper.

The white paper entitled "China's National Defense in the New Era" is China's first comprehensive document on national defense since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. It focuses on international community's concerns about the development of the Chinese military, and systematically introduces the characteristics, principles, as well as fundamental connotation of the defensive nature of China's national defense strategy. The white paper also clarifies the mission of the armed forces in regard to the "four strategic supports," which are to provide strategic support for consolidating the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system, safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; protecting China's overseas interests; and promoting world peace and development. It also clearly demonstrates the distinct features of "never seeking hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence" of China's national defense, providing details of the reasonable and appropriate defense expenditure, as well as the global significance of China's armed forces, and its contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The white paper comprises around 27,000 Chinese characters, and is divided into four parts, including preface, main body, concluding remarks and appendices.

The white paper points out that, the world today is undergoing profound changes unimagined in the past century. As economic globalization, growth of the information society, and cultural diversity develop in an increasingly multi-polar world, peace, stable development and win-win cooperation form irreversible trends of the times. Nonetheless, there are prominent destabilizing factors and uncertainties in international security. The international strategic landscape is undergoing profound changes, though the Asia-Pacific Security situation remains generally stable, the risks and challenges facing China's national security should not be ignored. With increasingly fierce international military competition, the world is not yet a tranquil place.

The white paper also states that China adheres to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The fundamental goal of national defense in the new era is to resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests. Never seeking hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence is the distinctive feature of China's national defense in the new era. Implementing the military strategic guideline for a new era is the strategic guidelines for China's national defense. Continuing to strengthen the military in the Chinese way is the way forward for China's national defense in the new era. The global significance is in the service of building a community with a shared future for mankind. 

In the new era, in meeting the strategic demands of national security and development, China's armed forces are firmly implementing the missions and tasks entrusted by the CPC and the Chinese people as a whole. They endeavor to provide strategic support for consolidating the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system, safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, protecting China's overseas interests, and promoting world peace and development.

The white paper points out that, in the new era, China is promoting defense policy and military modernization across the board and deepening reform in its national defense program and its armed forces in all respects. China is reforming the leadership and command system; optimizing the size, structure and composition; reforming military policies and institutions, reshuffling PLA and PAP troops, and promoting defense and military development in all respects, by which China has already taken historic steps toward strengthening and revitalizing the armed forces.

The white paper also notes that China's armed forces have responded faithfully to the call for a community with a shared future for mankind, resolutely upholding the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and building a new-model security partnership featuring equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation. China's armed forces have also spared no efforts to promote regional security cooperation, properly cope with disputes over territory and maritime demarcation, and actively provide international public security goods. These show that China's armed forces are striving for a better world of lasting peace and common security.

Guided by Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military, China's national defense in the new era will stride forward along its own path to build a stronger military and endeavor to achieve the great goal of developing a world-class force in an all-round way. China's armed forces have the determination, confidence and capability to meet all threats and challenges. They stand ready to provide strong strategic support for the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and to make new and greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The white paper has been published in Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese by the People's Publishing House and Foreign Languages Press. It will be issued across the country by the Xinhua Bookstore.

That's all for the general introduction. Next, I give the floor to Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense.