China releases white paper on national defense in new era
By Li Longyi, People's Daily
The State Council Information Office of China issued
a white paper titled "China's National Defense in the New Era" on
July 24th. It is the 10th white paper on national defense the Chinese
government has issued since 1998 and the first comprehensive one since the 18th
National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.
The main body of the 27,000-character white paper
was divided into six sections: the international security situation, China's
defensive national defense policy in the new era, fulfilling the missions and
tasks of China's armed forces in the new era, reform in China's national
defense and armed forces, reasonable and appropriate defense expenditure, and
actively contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The white paper pointed out that the socialist
system of China, the strategic decision to follow the path of peaceful
development, the independent foreign policy of peace, and the best of cultural
traditions—considering peace and harmony as
fundamentals—determine that China will pursue a
national defense policy that is defensive in nature.
The white paper said that resolutely safeguarding
China's sovereignty, security and development interests is the fundamental goal
of China's national defense in the new era; 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 guidance for China's national defense in the new era; staying
committed to the Chinese path of building strong armed forces is the path
forward for China's national defense in the new era; and the service of
building a community with a shared future for mankind is the global
significance of China's national defense in the new era.
The white paper for the first time unveiled the
missions and tasks of China's armed forces in the new era. It said that to meet
the strategic demands of national security and development, China's armed
forces firmly implement the missions and tasks entrusted by the CPC and the
people. 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 also presented a panorama of China's
historic achievements in deepening reform in national defense and armed forces.
In the new era, China is advancing defense and military modernization across
the board and deepening reform in national defense and armed forces in all
respects, with a focus on removing institutional barriers and solving
structural and policy-related problems to adapt to the trends of worldwide RMA
and the demands of national security. Historic strides have been made in
strengthening the armed forces.
The white paper detailed the reasonable and
appropriate defense expenditure in China. It introduced China's scale and
composition of defense expenditure and compared China with other countries
ranking high in defense expenditure.
All in all, China's defense expenditure is open and
transparent, and its spending is reasonable and appropriate. Compared to other
major countries, the ratios of China’s defense expenditure to GDP and to
government expenditure, as well as the per capita defense expenditure of the
country, remain at a relatively low level. There is still a wide gap between
China’s defense expenditure and the requirements for safeguarding national
sovereignty, security and development interests, for fulfilling China’s
international responsibilities and obligations as a major country, and for
China’s development. In step with national economic development, defense
expenditure of China will maintain a moderate and steady growth.
China releases white paper on national defense in new era
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