A Pledge Never to Pursue Hegemony, Expansion or Spheres of Influence

China's national defense policy is most prominently characterized by a pledge never to pursue hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence. 

From the mid-19th century to the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, China was ravaged by foreign aggression and civil wars. The Chinese people cherish peace, understand the imperative for national development, and will never impose on others the sufferings inflicted on us. China has never provoked a war or conflict over the 70 years since 1949. We have remained committed to world peace and voluntarily reduced our forces by more than four million since the start of China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s. 

Instead of benefiting from the largesse of others, or riding on the back of military expansionism or the plundering of colonies, China's successful transition from a poor and weak country to the world's second largest economy relies on a hard-working people and their unrelenting quest for peace. Efforts to maintain world peace help create conditions conducive to national development. Progress in national development, for its part, also contributes to world peace. We sincerely hope that all countries will choose peaceful development, and work together to prevent conflict and war.  

China seeks cooperation with others on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and respects other countries' right to decide how they will develop. International disputes should be resolved through dialog and consultation between the countries concerned on an equal footing. China stands firm against interference in other countries' internal affairs, bullying of the weak by the powerful, and any attempt to impose one's own will on others. 

China seeks partnership rather than alliances with some against others. It has never joined any military bloc and are firmly opposed to any aggression or expansionist moves, and any wanton use or threat of force. China's defense capability responds to its own legitimate security needs, and contributes to world peace. 

History has proven and will continue to prove that China will never follow the beaten track of big powers in seeking hegemony. No matter how far we progress, we will never threaten anyone, or seek spheres of influence.   

永不稱霸、永不擴張、永不謀求勢力范圍

堅持永不稱霸、永不擴張、永不謀求勢力范圍，是新時代中國國防的鮮明特征。

中華民族歷來愛好和平。近代以來，中國人民飽受侵略和戰亂之苦，深感和平之珍貴、發展之迫切，決不會把自己經受過的悲慘遭遇強加于人。新中國成立70年來，中國沒有主動挑起過任何一場戰爭和沖突。改革開放以來，中國致力于促進世界和平，主動裁減軍隊員額400余萬。中國由積貧積弱發展成為世界第二大經濟體，靠的不是別人的施舍，更不是軍事擴張和殖民掠奪，而是人民勤勞、維護和平。中國既通過維護世界和平為自身發展創造有利條件，又通過自身發展促進世界和平，真誠希望所有國家都選擇和平發展道路，共同防范沖突和戰爭。

中國堅持在和平共處五項原則基礎上發展同各國的友好合作，尊重各國人民自主選擇發展道路的權利，主張通過平等對話和談判協商解決國際爭端，反對干涉別國內政，反對恃強凌弱，反對把自己的意志強加于人。中國堅持結伴不結盟，不參加任何軍事集團，反對侵略擴張，反對動輒使用武力或以武力相威脅。中國的國防建設和發展，始終著眼于滿足自身安全的正當需要，始終是世界和平力量的增長。歷史已經并將繼續證明，中國決不走追逐霸權、“國強必霸”的老路。無論將來發展到哪一步，中國都不會威脅誰，都不會謀求建立勢力范圍。