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White Paper on China's National Defense
Source: Xinhua
The Information Office of the State Council issued here Monday a white paper about China's national defense. Following is the full text of the paper titled "China's National Defense in 2002":
Foreword
The world needs peace, the people want cooperation, nations long for development
and society aspires for progress. These are the irresistible trends of our
times. The Chinese people, like the people of all other countries, do not want
to see any new war, hot or cold, and turbulence in any region of the world, but
yearn for lasting peace, stability and tranquility, as well as common
development and universal prosperity in the world.
China has entered the new phase of development for building a well-off society
in an all-round way and speeding up socialist modernization. To continue to
propel the modernization drive, to achieve national reunification of the
motherland, and to safeguard world peace and promote common development are the
three historical tasks of the Chinese people in the new century. The 16th
National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which attracted worldwide
attention, has drawn up a grand blueprint for China's development in the new
century. A developing China needs a peaceful international environment and a
favorable climate in its periphery. And its development will make even greater
contributions to world peace and human progress. China steadfastly follows a
road of peaceful development, pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and
implements a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.
To further introduce China's national defense policy and progress in national
defense development in the past two years, this white paper, China's National
Defense in 2002, is hereby published.
I. The Security Situation
The international situation is undergoing profound changes as the world has
entered the new century. World multi-polarization and economic globalization are
developing amid twists and turns. Science and technology are advancing with each
passing day. Competition in the overall national strength has become
increasingly fierce. And mankind is faced with new opportunities for development
and new challenges.
Peace and development remain the themes of the present era. Economic
interdependence among nations has been deepened. The role played by global and
regional economic cooperation organizations is on the increase. And economic
security has been given even more attention. Economic development, scientific
and technological progress, and the enhancement of overall national strength are
the main strategic trends of all countries. The major countries, while
cooperating with and seeking support from each other, are nonetheless checking
on and competing with one another. But since the terrorist attacks against the
United States on September 11, 2001, they have stepped up their coordination and
cooperation. The developing countries are actively pushing forward the
establishment of a fair and rational new international order, and playing an
important role in the promotion of world peace and development. A new world war
is unlikely in the foreseeable future. To preserve peace and promote development
represents the common aspiration of all peoples.
The Asia-Pacific region has, on the whole, continued to enjoy its peace and
stability, and remains the most dynamic region economically with the greatest
development potential in the world. Strengthening dialogue and cooperation,
maintaining regional stability and promoting common development have become the
mainstream policy of the Asian countries. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) is heading for closer cooperation. The cooperation in East Asia with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and the Republic
of Korea (10+3) as the major channel, has become more practical. China and the
ASEAN have reached consensus on the establishment of a free trade area within 10
years, initiating full cooperation in the field of non-traditional security
issues. Cooperation for the development of the Mekong River valley is about to
unfold. The ASEAN Regional Forum has made substantive achievements in the
transition from confidence-building measures to preventive diplomacy. The
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has made outstanding progress in
building mutual trust and developing state-to-state relationship based on
partnership rather than alliance, as well as in anti- terrorism cooperation. The
reconstruction of Afghanistan is under way. The situation in the South China Sea
area has been basically stable, as the relevant countries have signed the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
However, uncertainties impeding peace and development are also on the increase.
The world is far from being tranquil. The old international political and
economic order, which is unfair and irrational, has yet to be changed
fundamentally. Economic development of the world is materially unbalanced, and
the North- South gap is further widening. The developing countries have gained
less from the economic globalization process, and some of them are in danger of
being marginalized. Democracy in international relations remains elusive, and
there are new manifestations of hegemonism and power politics. In certain
regions, disputes caused by ethnic, religious, territorial, resources or other
issues crop up from time to time, leading even to armed conflicts and local
wars. Terrorism, transnational crimes, environmental degradation, drug
trafficking and other non- traditional security threats are becoming more and
more pronounced. Terrorism, in particular, is posing a real threat to both
global and regional security.
Rapid and drastic changes are taking place in the military field around the
world, and a new serious disequilibrium has occurred in the balance of military
power. The extensive applications in the military field of new and high
technologies led by IT have stretched the battlefield into multidimensional
space which includes the land, sea, air, outer space and electron. Medium- and
long-distance precision strikes have become an important pattern of operations.
The form of war is becoming increasingly information-oriented. All major
countries have made adjustments in their military strategies and stepped up the
modernization by relying on high technologies. As far as military technology is
concerned, the gap between the developed and developing countries is wider than
ever before. The developing countries are facing a serious challenge in their
effort to safeguard sovereignty and security.
Factors of instability still exist in the Asia-Pacific region. Traditional
security problems left over from history are yet to be resolved, and new ones
have appeared. In certain countries, non- traditional security issues are
looming large. The danger posed by terrorist, separatist and extremist forces to
the region's security cannot be rooted out in a short time. Tension in South
Asia has not been fundamentally changed. Afghanistan has not regained full
stability. Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula is moving haltingly. Certain
countries are stepping up their military deployment and strengthening their
military alliances in the Asia- Pacific region. Other countries have time and
again enlarged the terms of reference and scope of operations of their armed
forces.
The basic pattern and trend of development in the cross-Taiwan Straits
relationship remain unchanged. As the Taiwan compatriots are more vocal in their
demand for peace, tranquility and development, cross-Straits economic, trade,
cultural and personnel exchanges have become more frequent, and the opening of
three direct links in mail, air and shipping, and trade between the two sides
represents the popular will and the trend of the times. But the root cause of
tension between the two sides has not been eliminated. While refusing to accept
the one-China principle, and stubbornly clinging to the position of "Taiwan
independence," the leader of Taiwan has even gone so far as to dish up the
separatist proposition of "one country on each side," and carried out all sorts
of separatist moves with an incremental tactic. The Taiwan separatist force is
the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. By continuing
to sell weapons and military equipment to Taiwan and elevating relations with
the Taiwan authorities, a handful of countries have interfered in China's
internal affairs, inflated the arrogance of the separatist forces and undermined
China's peaceful reunification.
Threats to world security have come in multiple forms and assumed global
dimension, which has increased the common interests of countries on the issue of
security. To enhance mutual trust through dialogue, to promote common security
through cooperation, and to cultivate a new security concept featuring mutual
trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, have become the requirements of
the trend of our era. China is always a staunch force for safeguarding world
peace and promoting common development. China will unremittingly put the new
security concept into practice, oppose all kinds of hegemonism and power
politics, and combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations. China will
strive, together with other countries in the world, to create an international
environment of long-term peace, stability and security.
II. National Defense Policy
Strengthening national defense is a strategic task in China's modernization
drive, and a key guarantee for safeguarding China's security and unity and
building a well-off society in an all-round way. China has consistently pursued
a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.
The fundamental basis for the formulation of China's national defense policy is
China's national interests. It primarily includes: safeguarding state
sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security; upholding economic
development as the central task and unremittingly enhancing the overall national
strength; adhering to and improving the socialist system; maintaining and
promoting social stability and harmony; and striving for an international
environment of lasting peace and a favorable climate in China's periphery. China
takes all measures necessary to safeguard its national interests and, at the
same time, respects the interests of other countries, standing for peaceful
settlement of disputes and differences among nations by means of consultation.
The goals and tasks of China's national defense are, in the main, as follows:
-- To consolidate national defense, prevent and resist aggression. China's
territorial land, inland waters, territorial seas and territorial airspace are
inviolable. In accordance with the requirements of national defense in the new
situation, China persists in unified leadership over national defense
activities, pursues the principle of independence and self-defense by the whole
people, implements the military strategy of active defense, strengthens the
building of its armed forces and that of its frontier defense, sea defense and
air defense, takes effective defensive and administrative measures to defend
national security and safeguard its maritime rights and interests. In the event
of aggressions, China will resolutely resist in accordance with the Constitution
and laws.
-- To stop separation and realize complete reunification of the motherland.
China is a unitary multi-ethnic country jointly created by its people of all
ethnic groups. The Chinese government forbids discrimination and oppression
against any ethnic group, as well as any act aimed at undermining ethnic harmony
and splitting the country. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Chinese
government will, in keeping with the basic principles of "peaceful
reunification" and "one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal on
developing cross-Straits relations and advancing the process of peaceful
national reunification at the present stage, strive for prospects of peaceful
reunification with the utmost sincerity and the maximum effort. But it will not
forswear the use of force. China resolutely opposes arms sales to Taiwan or
entering into a military alliance in any form with Taiwan by any country.
China's armed forces will unswervingly defend the country 's sovereignty and
unity, and have the resolve as well as the capability to check any separatist
act.
-- To stop armed subversion and safeguard social stability.
China's Constitution and laws prohibit any organization or individual from
organizing, plotting or carrying out armed rebellion or riot to subvert the
state power or overthrow the socialist system. China opposes all forms of
terrorism, separatism and extremism. Regarding maintenance of public order and
social stability in accordance with the law as their important duty, the Chinese
armed forces will strike hard at terrorist activities of any kind, crush
infiltration and sabotaging activities by hostile forces, and crack down on all
criminal activities that threaten public order, so as to promote social
stability and harmony. ( More) 09/12/2002 10:12 GMT
-- To accelerate national defense development and achieve national defense and
military modernization.
China follows an approach of coordinating national defense building and economic
development, striving for a high cost- effectiveness and promoting defense and
military modernization on the basis of economic growth. Taking Mao Zedong's
military thinking and Deng Xiaoping's thinking on armed forces building in the
new period as the guide to action, and fully implementing the important thought
of the "Three Represents," (meaning the Communist Party of China must always
represent the requirements of the development of China's advanced productive
forces, the orientation of the development of China's advanced culture, and the
fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people in China) the
Chinese military persists in taking the road of fewer but better troops with
Chinese characteristics, pushes forward the various reforms in response to the
trend in military changes in the world, and strives to accomplish the historical
tasks of mechanization and IT application, thereby bringing about leapfrog
development in the modernization of the military.
-- To safeguard world peace and oppose aggression and expansion.
China will never seek hegemony, nor will it join any military bloc or crave for
any sphere of influence. China opposes policies of war, aggression and
expansion, stands against arms race and supports efforts of the international
community to solve international disputes in a fair and reasonable manner. It
endorses all activities conducive to maintaining the global strategic balance
and stability, and actively participates in international cooperation against
terrorism.
China implements a military strategy of active defense. Strategically, China
pursues a principle featuring defensive operations, self-defense and attack only
after being attacked. In response to the profound changes in the world's
military field and the requirements of the national development strategy, China
has formulated a military strategic guideline of active defense in the new
period.
This guideline is based on winning local wars under modern, especially high-tech
conditions. In view of the various factors threatening national security, China
has prepared for defensive operation under the most difficult and complex
circumstances. The People's Liberation Army ( PLA), in implementing the strategy
of building a strong military through science and technology, has accelerated
the R&D of defense weaponry and equipment, trained high-quality military
personnel of a new type, established a scientific organizational structure,
developed theories for military operations with Chinese characteristics, and
strengthened its capability for joint, mobile and multi-purpose operations.
This guideline stresses the deterrence of war. In accordance with the needs of
the national development strategy, the PLA, by employing military means flexibly
and in close coordination with political, economic and diplomatic endeavors,
improves China's strategic environment, reduces factors of insecurity and
instability, and prevents local wars and armed conflicts so as to keep the
country from the harm of war. China consistently upholds the policy of no first
use of nuclear weapons, and adopts an extremely restrained attitude toward the
development of nuclear weapons. China has never participated in any nuclear arms
race and never deployed nuclear weapons abroad. China's limited nuclear
counterattack ability is entirely for deterrence against possible nuclear
attacks by other countries.
This guideline highlights and carries forward the concept of people's war. In
the face of new changes in modern warfare, China persists in relying on the
people in national defense building, enhancing the popular awareness of national
defense, and instituting an armed force system of combining a small but capable
standing army with a powerful reserve force; upholds the principle of combining
peacetime footing with wartime footing, uniting the army with the people, and
having a reserve among the people, improving the mobilization mechanism with
expanded mobilization scope, and establishing a national defense mobilization
system in line with the requirements of modern warfare; and adheres to flexible
applications of strategies and tactics, creating new ways of fighting so as to
give fuller play to the strength of a people' s war.
III. The Armed Forces
The armed forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC) are composed of the
People's Liberation Army, the Chinese People's Armed Police Force and the
militia. The Central Military Commission (CMC) of the PRC directs and assumes
unified command of the nation's armed forces.
The People's Liberation Army
The PLA is a people's army created and led by the Communist Party of China
(CPC), and the principal body of China's armed forces. The PLA is made up of
both active and reserve components. Its total force is maintained below the
2,500,000-strong mark. The active components of the PLA are the country's
standing army, consisting of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Second Artillery
Force, whose main task is to conduct operations of defense, and, if necessary,
help to maintain social order in accordance with the law. Through the General
Staff Headquarters, the General Political Department, the General Logistics
Department and the General Armaments Department, the CMC exercises operational
command over the whole PLA and leadership for the development of the PLA. The
PLA was established on August 1, 1927, and consisted of land forces only in its
early days. The Army is responsible primarily for military operations on land.
At present, the Army has no independent leading organ, and the functions of the
leading organ are exercised by the four general headquarters/departments. The
seven military area commands, namely, those of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou,
Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, exercise direct leadership over the Army
units under their command. The Army has such arms as infantry, armor, artillery,
air defense, Army aviation, engineering, chemical defense and communications, as
well as other specialized units such as those of electronic counter-measure
(ECM), reconnaissance and mapping. The infantry, maneuvering and operating on
foot or on armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, is composed
of mountain infantry, motorized infantry and mechanized infantry (armored
infantry). The armored corps (tank corps), equipped basically with tanks and
other armored vehicles and support vehicles, carries out ground assaults. The
artillery corps, equipped basically with artillery for suppression and anti-tank
purposes, and missiles for antitank and other operational-tactical purposes,
carries out ground fire strikes. The air defense corps, equipped basically with
anti- aircraft artillery and ground-to-air missile systems, carries out
ground-to-air operations. The Army aviation corps, equipped with attack,
transport, and other specialized helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft,
carries out air maneuvers and provides support for ground operations. The
engineering corps, responsible for engineering support, is composed of
engineering and other specialized units of pontoons, construction, camouflage,
field water supply, and engineering maintenance. The chemical defense corps,
responsible for chemical defense operations, is composed of chemical defense,
flame-throwing and smoke-generating units. The communications corps, responsible
for military communications, is composed of specialized units engaged in
communications, communications engineering, communications technical support,
aviation navigation and military postal service. The Army, in accordance with
its different duties and responsibilities, is also divided into field mobile,
sea border defense, frontier defense, and garrison troops. The organizational
order of the field mobile troops is normally combined corps, division (brigade),
regiment, battalion, company, platoon and squad. The organizational systems of
the sea border defense, frontier defense and garrison troops are decided in
accordance with their operational tasks and geographical conditions.
The Navy of the PLA was established on April 23, 1949. Its primary missions are,
independently or jointly with the Army and Air Force, to guard against enemy
invasion from the sea, defend the state's sovereignty over its territorial
waters, and safeguard the state's maritime rights and interests. The Navy has
such arms as the submarine, surface, naval aviation, coastal defense and marine
corps, as well as other specialized units. Under the Navy, there are three
fleets, namely, the Beihai, Donghai and Nanhai fleets, as well as the Naval
Aviation Department. Each fleet has bases, maritime garrison commands, flotillas
and squadrons under its command. The submarine force is composed both of
conventional and nuclear-powered units, with underwater attack and some nuclear
counterattack capabilities respectively. The nuclear-powered submarine force,
which assumes the strategic nuclear counterattack mission, is under the direct
command of the CMC. The surface force has combat and support units, which have
anti-ship, anti-submarine, air defense, mine warfare and shore attack
capabilities. The naval aviation is composed of bomber, fighter-bomber,
attacker, fighter, anti-submarine and reconnaissance units, and security, ECM,
transport, rescue and air refueling units, which have reconnaissance, security,
anti-ship, anti-submarine and air defense capabilities. The organizational order
is: Naval Aviation Department, fleet aviation, and aviation division and
regiment. The naval coastal defense force is composed of shore-to-ship missile
and coastal artillery units, which have capabilities to defend China's coasts.
The marine corps has infantry, artillery, armor and engineering units, as well
as reconnaissance, chemical defense and communications units. It is a rapid
assault force for amphibious operations.
The Air Force of the PLA was established on November 11, 1949. Its primary
missions are organizing homeland air defense to protect the territorial air, and
providing air security for key facilities; organizing relatively independent air
offensive operations; independently or jointly with the Army, the Navy or the
Second Artillery Force, engaging in joint operations against enemy invasion from
the air, or in conducting air strikes against the enemy. Adopting a system of
combining aviation with ground-to- air defense forces, the Air Force consists of
the aviation, surface-to-air missile, anti-aircraft artillery and airborne
units, as well as communications, radar, ECM, chemical defense, technical
reconnaissance and other specialized units. The Air Force has an air command in
each of the seven military areas of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing,
Guangzhou and Chengdu. In the major direction and target zones, there are air
corps or corps- level air bases. The aviation is composed of fighter, attacker,
bomber, reconnaissance, transport and support units, usually in the
organizational order of division, regiment, group and squadron. An aviation
division generally has under its command two to three aviation regiments and
related stations. The aviation regiment is the basic tactical unit. Due to
differences in weaponry and tasks, the number of aircraft in an aviation
regiment ranges from 20 to 40. The ratio of aircraft to pilots (aircrew) is
usually 1:1.2. The ground-to-air missile force and anti-aircraft artillery force
are usually organized into divisions (brigades), regiments, battalions and
companies, and the airborne force into corps, divisions, regiments, battalions
and companies.
The Second Artillery Force of the PLA was established on July 1, 1966. It is
composed of the ground-to-ground strategic nuclear missile force, the
conventional operational-tactical missile force, and the support units. The
strategic nuclear missile force, under the direct command of the CMC,
constitutes the main part of China' s limited nuclear counterattack capability.
It is equipped with land-based strategic nuclear missile systems. Its primary
missions are to deter the enemy from using nuclear weapons against China, and,
in the case of a nuclear attack by the enemy, to launch an effective
counterattack in self-defense independently or jointly with the strategic
nuclear forces of other services, at the order of the supreme command. The
conventional operational-tactical missile force is equipped with conventional
operational and tactical missile systems. Its task is to carry out fire assaults
with conventional missiles.
The PLA's reserve force, established in 1983, is a force with its own preset
organizational structure, with reserve personnel as the base and active
personnel as the backbone. The reserve force operates a unified organizational
system. The divisions, brigades and regiments of the reserve force are conferred
designations and military banners. The reserve force implements orders and
regulations of the PLA, and is incorporated into the PLA's order of battle. In
peacetime, it is led by the provincial military districts or garrison commands,
and in wartime, after mobilization, it is commanded by the designated active
unit or carries out combat missions independently. It receives military training
in peacetime in accordance with the relevant regulations, and, if necessary,
helps to maintain social order in accordance with the law. In wartime, it may be
called into active service in pursuance of a state mobilization order.
The PLA forces stationed in Hong Kong and Macao are under the direct leadership
of the CMC. The PLA Hong Kong Garrison is mainly composed of ground, naval and
air units. The PLA Macao Garrison is mainly composed of a ground force, with
some naval and air force personnel on its staff.
The Chinese People's Armed Police Force
The Chinese People's Armed Police Force was established on June 19, 1982. It
consists of internal security forces, gold mine, forest, water conservancy,
electricity power, and transportation forces. The frontier police force, fire
brigades and security guards are also included into the Armed Police Force. The
internal security forces are composed of contingents and mobile divisions. The
Armed Police Force is constructed in accordance with the PLA's guiding concept,
purpose and principles of army building, as well as its orders, rules and
regulations, combined with characteristics of the Armed Police Force. It
implements the Military Service Law of the PRC, and enjoys the same benefits as
those of the PLA. The basic missions of the Armed Police Force are to maintain
state security and social stability, protect facilities and objects significant
to the state, safeguard people' s lives and properties, and assist the PLA in
wartime in defensive operations.
The Armed Police Force is subordinate to the State Council, and is under the
dual leadership of the State Council and the CMC. The Armed Police Force
receives unified leadership and management, and its command is delegated to a
relevant organ at each level. The Armed Police Force has three echelons of
leadership, namely, general headquarters, contingent (division) and detachment (
regiment). The General Headquarters of the Armed Police Force, as the chief
commanding organ of the Armed Police Force, commands and administers internal
security forces, and gold mine, forest, water conservancy, electricity power,
and transportation forces. In the nationwide administrative hierarchy, the Armed
Police contingents, detachments, and squadrons are instituted at province,
prefecture, and county levels respectively. When performing a public security
task or relevant work, the Armed Police Force unit is subordinate to the
leadership and command of the public security organs at the same level.
In peacetime, the tasks of the Armed Police Force include performing guard
duties at fixed points, dealing with contingencies, combating terrorism and
supporting national economic development. Guard duties at fixed points chiefly
mean, among others, security guard, watch and ward, prison and detention guard,
escort and patrol. It is specifically responsible for protecting the security of
state-designated objects to be guarded, important visiting foreign dignitaries,
leading organs of the Party and government at and above the provincial level,
embassies and consulates of foreign countries in China, important national and
international conferences, and sites of large-scale cultural and sports
activities; posting peripheral armed guards at prisons and detention houses;
providing armed protection for key departments in charge of confidential work
and critical parts of important airports, radio stations, state economic
departments, and national defense works, as well as important bridges and
tunnels along trunk railway lines, and specially designated large road bridges;
and performing armed patrol and other security duties in state-designated large
and medium-sized cities or specific zones. Dealing with contingencies chiefly
means handling, according to law, sudden illegal incidents endangering state
security or social order, such as revolts, riots and disturbances, fights with
weapons and other group activities that endanger public security. Combating
terrorism chiefly means performing anti- attack, anti-hijacking and
anti-explosion tasks. Supporting national economic development chiefly means
gold mine prospecting, preventing and fighting forest fire, participation in key
state energy and transportation projects, and emergency rescue and disaster
relief in cases of serious calamities.
The Militia
The militia is an armed mass organization not released from production. It is a
reserve force of the PLA and the basis for the prosecution of a people's war
under modern conditions. The General Staff Headquarters administers the building
of the militia under the leadership of the State Council and the CMC. Under the
command of military organs, the militia in wartime helps the standing army in
its military operations, conducts independent operations, and provides combat
support and manpower replenishment for the standing army. In peacetime, it
undertakes the tasks of performing combat readiness support, taking part in
emergency rescue and disaster relief efforts, and maintaining social order.
In accordance with provisions in the Military Service Law of the PRC, male
citizens from 18 to 35 years of age who are fit for military service, excluding
those enlisted for active service, shall be regimented into militia units to
perform reserve service. The militia has two categories: the primary and the
ordinary. A selected group of militiamen under the age of 28, including soldiers
discharged from active service and other persons who have received or are
selected for military training, shall be regimented into the primary militia;
other male citizens belonging to the age group of 18 to 35, who are qualified
for reserve service shall be regimented into the ordinary militia. The primary
militia may recruit female citizens when necessary. Rural towns and townships,
administrative villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises and institutions
of a certain scale are the basic units in which the militia is organized.
Primary militiamen are separately organized for concentrated military training
in militia military training bases of administrative areas at the county level.
Currently, there are emergency detachments, and such specialized technical
detachments as anti-aircraft artillery, anti- aircraft machineguns, portable air
defense missiles, ground artillery, communications, chemical defense,
engineering and reconnaissance detachments.
To ensure that militiamen are always ready to respond to the call in case of a
contingency, the Chinese government has formulated a militia combat readiness
system, whereby combat readiness education is carried out regularly among the
militia with the purpose of enhancing their national defense awareness, and
exercises are conducted in accordance with combat readiness plans to enhance the
militia's operational capabilities.
IV. National Defense Building
China's national defense building is an important part of the country's
modernization drive. To meet the needs of safeguarding its national security,
China insists on modernizing its national defense according to its own
conditions
Legal System
During the past two years, the legal system relating to China's national defense
has made much headway. In March 2000, the National People's Congress (NPC)
enacted the Legislation Law of the PRC, which for the first time expressly
defined the legislative power of the CMC and all general headquarters/
departments, all services and arms, and all military area commands. The CMC may
formulate military statutes in accordance with the Constitution and laws. The
general headquarters/departments, services and arms, and military area commands
may, within their respective authorities, formulate military regulations in
accordance with the law and the military statutes, decisions and orders of the
CMC. The military statutes and regulations are implemented within the armed
forces. Procedures for formulation, amendment and nullification of military
statutes and regulations shall be stipulated by the CMC in accordance with the
principles specified in the provisions of the said Law. The above stipulations
have provided for the important position of the military legislative system
within the overall legislative system of the state.
Since 2000, China has issued 3 decisions, 56 statutes and 420 regulations in
respect of laws and law-related issues concerning national defense and armed
forces building. The National Defense Education Law of the PRC enacted by the
Standing Committee of the NPC has provided a legal basis for national defense
education. The newly revised Law of the PRC on Officers in Active Service has
further perfected the military service system pertaining to PLA officers. The
State Council and the CMC have joint1ly formulated the Implementation Measures
for the Law of the PRC on Protecting Military Facilities, which expressly
provides for the organizational leading system regarding the protection of
military facilities, as well as specific protection and penalty measures. The
newly revised Routine Service Regulations of the PLA and Discipline Regulations
of the PLA provide a powerful legal guarantee for enhancing the effort of
running the armed forces according to law under the new conditions.
To safeguard the interests of national defense and the legitimate rights and
interests of military personnel in an age of reform and opening-up, China has
reformed its military judicial system. Authorized by the Supreme People's Court
of the PRC, military courts have begun to adjudicate civil cases within the
armed forces, including cases on contract, marriage and family, real estate,
intellectual property rights, damage claims in medical accidents, and
applications for adjudication of the missing or death of servicemen, thus
exercising the function of civil adjudication inside the armed forces. Relevant
organs of local governments at various levels and the armed forces are trying to
create a favorable legal environment for national defense and armed forces
building by establishing and improving the mechanism of protecting the
legitimate rights and interests of the service personnel and their families.
Under unified arrangement by the state, the Chinese armed forces launched in
2001 the Fourth Five-Year Program on Education to Popularize Knowledge of Laws.
The main contents include studying the Constitution, basic laws of the state and
laws and regulations in relation to national defense and armed forces building,
performance of the armed forces' functions, development of the socialist market
economy, and the vital interests of the officers and men. The contents of the
military law, the law of war and armed conflicts, etc., have been included in
the legal courses at military colleges and schools, and the training programs of
the armed forces. The PLA has set up courses for field-grade officers of the
Army, Navy and Air Force on the armed conflict law once every two years, and
organized lectures on the armed conflict law for officers of the division level
and above, who are enrolled at the National Defense University every year.
Mobilization
At each level of the people's government from the county up to the state, there
is a national defense mobilization commission, which has under it, offices and
coordinating bodies responsible for the mobilization of the people's armed
forces, national economy and transportation, civil air defense, and national
defense education. The premier of the State Council takes the position of
chairman of the State National Defense Mobilization Commission, and
vice-premiers of the State Council and vice- chairmen of the CMC are
vice-chairmen. Other members include heads of relevant ministries and
commissions under the State Council, leaders of the general
headquarters/departments of the PLA and heads of their subordinate offices. The
chairman of the local national defense mobilization commission is the principal
leader of the local government at the same level. The vice-chairmen are the
deputy leaders at the local government of the same level and principal leaders
of the military organ at the same level.
The state conducts mobilization preparations in peacetime by integrating
mobilization of the armed forces, the national economy and transportation, civil
air defense, and defense education into the state's overall development plan and
relevant programs. Mobilization of the armed forces refers to the mobilization
of the active and reserve forces of the PLA, the Armed Police Force, the militia
and the reserve personnel, as well as the mobilization of appropriate weapons,
equipment and logistical materials. Its main task is to prepare in peacetime for
manpower mobilization and, in case of need, call up the reservists and other
citizens of service age, ensure a quick expansion and reorganization of the PLA,
and expansion of the other forces, and organize the masses to support and join
in the operations of the armed forces. Mobilization of the national economy
includes mobilization of industry, agriculture, science and technology, material
supplies, commerce and trade, and finance. Its main task is, in peacetime, to
integrate the preparation for mobilization with economic development in an
organized and planned way, and in time of war, reallocate economic resources,
and exercise centralized control and use of national financial and material
resources so as to increase the production of weapons, equipment and other
military supplies, and meet the needs of war. Mobilization for civil air defense
includes mobilization of civilians and people with special civil air defense
skills, material and technical support for civil air defense projects, and civil
air defense early-warning systems. Its main task is to mobilize social forces in
construction of air defense projects, establish and train specialized air
defense service, conduct civil air defense publicity and education, organize
evacuations and sheltering, assist in air defense operations, and deal with the
aftermath of air raids. Mobilization of transportation includes mobilization of
transportation, communications and postal services. Its main task is to organize
in peacetime the formation of professional transportation and communications
support force, defense infrastructure construction, equipment build-up, war
material storage and mobilization preparations of civil transportation means and
in time of war, organize the rush repair and construction of transportation and
communications facilities, and transportation support for troop movement and
material supply.
In recent years, some army units and local governments have, pursuant to
relevant laws and regulations, jointly organized defense mobilization drills for
transportation and air defense. China is further improving its defense
mobilization laws and regulations, perfecting its defense mobilization system,
and actively promoting modernization in this area.
Education
China emphasizes popularizing and strengthening national defense education with
patriotism at its core, strives to enhance the national defense awareness of the
whole people, and helps citizens perform defense duties conscientiously.
The nationwide defense education is under the leadership of the State Council,
with the assistance of the CMC. The State Defense Education Office is
responsible for the planning, organization, direction and coordination of the
nation's defense education. Local people's governments at all levels exercise
leadership over defense education in their respective administrative areas. All
relevant departments perform their respective duties, cooperate with one
another, and, combined with their own work, ensure that defense education
activities are carried out smoothly. The National Defense Education Law of the
PRC was formally promulgated and came into force on April 28, 2001, putting
China's national defense education on the legal track.
China implements a military training system in institutions of higher learning,
senior middle schools and schools corresponding to senior middle schools. Since
1985, more than 200,000 officers and men have helped these institutions and
schools organize military training for students, and more than 30 million
students have been trained. In the past several years, the percentage of
university and college freshmen receiving military training has reached about
60%. Commencing in 2002, students of all regular institutions of higher learning
and senior middle schools are obliged to take military training in accordance
with relevant regulations and plans.
On August 31, 2001, the NPC Standing Committee set the third Saturday of
September every year as the National Defense Education Day. This has provided a
vehicle for the participation of the entire population in national defense
educational activities, which helps ensure enhanced and continued implementation
of the educational programs in this area.
Defense Expenditure
The Chinese government has always been strict in its control, management and
supervision of defense spending, and has established a complete system of
relevant laws and regulations for that purpose. Pursuant to the National Defense
Law of the PRC, the entire defense expenditure comes from the state financial
budget. In order to meet the defense needs, the Chinese government exercises a
system of financial appropriation of defense funds, and implements
administration in accordance with the Budget Law of the PRC. China's defense
budget and final accounts are reviewed and approved by the NPC. The state and
armed forces' auditing organs exercise strict auditing and supervision of the
execution process of the budget.
In recent years, in line with financing and budgeting reforms in the government,
the administration of defense expenditure has undergone a whole array of
reforms, including reform in the defense expenditure budgeting method,
centralized payment for weapon and equipment procurement, and a tendering and
bidding system for the procurement of defense materials, projects and services.
Defense funds are therefore managed in a more just, fair and transparent way.
Based on the continuous economic growth, China's defense expenditure has
increased somewhat. The proportion of annual defense spending in the GDP was
1.09% in 1995, and 1.50% in 2001 ( see Chart 1). However, China's defense
expenditure has been kept at a fairly low level, and the increased part is
basically of a compensatory nature. From 1979 to 2001, the proportion of defense
expenditure in the state financial spending is on a declining curve (see Chart
2) from 17.37% in 1979 to 7.65% in 2001 -- a drop of nearly 10 percentage
points. Chart 1: Percentage of China's Annual Defense Expenditure in GDP (
1995-2001) 1995:1.09%; 1996:1.06%; 1997:1.09%; 1998:1.19%; 1999:1.31%; 2000:1.
35%; 2001:1.50% Chart 2: Percentage of China's Defense Expenditure in the Total
State Financial Expenditure (1979-2001) 1979:17.37%; 1983:12.57%; 1987:9.27%;
1991:9.75%; 1995:9.33%; 1998: 8.66%; 2001:7.65%.
China's defense spending was 120.754 billion yuan (RMB) in 2000, and 144.204
billion yuan in 2001. The budget for defense expenditure in 2002 is 169.444
billion yuan (see the following table), accounting for 7.60%, 7.65% and 8.03% of
the state financial expenditure in the same year, respectively. Table: Breakdown
of China's Annual Defense Expenditures in 2000, 2001 and 2002 (unit: RMB100
million yuan) Item Year/Personnel: 2000/405.50; 2001/461.63; 2002/540.43 Item
Year/Maintenance & Operations: 2000/412.74; 2001/485.81; 2002/581.23 Item Year/
Equipment: 2000/389.30; 2001/494.60; 2002/572.78 Item Year/Total: 2000/1,207.54;
2001/1,442.04; 2002/1,694.44
The increased defense expenditure in recent years has primarily been for the
following purposes: (1)Increase of personnel expenses. Along with the
socio-economic development and the per-capita income rise of rural and urban
residents, it is necessary to improve the living standards and conditions of
military personnel. The past decade has witnessed the increase of the board
expenses in the armed forces on five occasions, and an 84% salary raise for
officers and 92% allowance raise for soldiers. (2)Establishment and gradual
improvement of a social security system for servicemen. In accordance with the
requirements of the market economy, China has, since 1998, established such
systems as injury and death insurance for servicemen, medical insurance for
demobilized servicemen and housing subsidies for servicemen, and adjusted and
enhanced living expense standards for PLA retirees. (3)Increase of expenses of a
maintenance nature. Since the armed forces stopped commercial activities in
1998, the budget for training has increased year by year. With the gradual
improvement of living facilities and progressive office automation, expenses of
a maintenance nature have kept rising. (4)Increase of expenses spent on
cooperation with the international community in anti-terrorism activities.
(5)Appropriate increase of expenses for the improvement of military equipment to
enhance defense capabilities under the conditions of modern technologies,
particularly high technologies.
On the whole, China's defense expenditure has remained at a fairly low level in
the world in 2002 (see Chart 3). Compared with the USA, Russia, UK and France,
the percentage of China's defense expenditure in its GDP and the state financial
expenditure is also fairly low (see Chart 4). Chart 3: Comparison of Defense
Expenditures of Some Countries in 2002 (unit: 100 million US dollars)
USA:3,479.9; Russia:91; UK:348; France:244; Germany:207; Japan:405; China:204
Note 1: The exchange rate used here is based on that announced by China's State
Administration of Exchange Control in 2002, which is 1.0 US dollar equals about
8.28 RMB yuan. Note 2: Statistics in the chart are sourced from the national
defense reports, financial reports and other government reports published by the
said countries. Chart 4: Comparison of the Percentages of Defense Expenditure in
the GDP and Financial Expenditure of China and Some Other Countries in 2001
Percentage of defense expenditure in the GDP: USA:3.04%; Russia:2.41%; UK:2.50%;
France:1.96%; Germany:1.10%; Japan:0.95%; China:1.50% Percentage of defense
expenditure in financial expenditure: USA:16.55%; Russia:18.35%; UK:6.1%;
France:11.08%; Germany:9.80%; Japan:5.98%; China:7.65% Note: Statistics in the
chart are sourced from the national defense reports, financial reports and other
government reports published by the said countries.
Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
China's defense-related science, technology and industry is the state's
strategic industry, and the important industrial and technological foundation
for national defense modernization, as well as a major driving force for the
development of the national economy, science and technology. China builds and
develops its defense-related science, technology and industry independently,
enhances the overall level and economic efficiency of defense- related science,
technology and industry, and promotes the coordinated development of national
defense and economy.
The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense of the
PRC is an organ under the State Council in charge of work in this regard. It is
responsible for researching and formulating principles and policies, as well as
laws, rules and regulations in respect of the development of defense-related
science, technology and industry; deliberating the development plan for
defense-related science, technology and industry, and overseeing the overall
planning of and proper connections between defense-related research, production
and construction; organizing qualification examination and approval work for
research and manufacture of military products; examining and verifying contracts
in respect of scientific research and production between the military and the
producers; coordinating, supervising and inspecting execution of ordering
contracts so as to ensure the production and supply of military equipment;
exercising administration of the nuclear, space, aviation, shipbuilding and
weaponry industries; giving guidance to the administration of the
military-related electronics sector; organizing, studying and implementing
reform of the system of defense-related science, technology and industry;
organizing adjustment of the capability, structure and layout of the
defense-related science, technology and industry; drawing up plans for
investment in fixed assets in respect of defense-related science, technology and
industry, and for technical transformation and development of defense conversion
technologies, and organizing the implementation of such plans; and conducting
foreign exchanges and international cooperation in the field of defense-related
science, technology and industry.
After decades of development, China has formed a defense- related science,
technology and industry system, which is by and large complete in disciplines
and coordinated with regard to means of research and production; trained and
fostered a contingent of professionals with a good mastery of advanced
technology and a sound work style; and laid an important material and
technological foundation for independent research and manufacture of military
equipment in China. Currently, China has 11 military industrial group
corporations, namely, China National Nuclear Corporation, China Nuclear
Engineering and Construction Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Technology
Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, China Aviation
Industry Corporation I, China Aviation Industry Corporation II, China State
Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, China North
Industries Group Corporation, China South Industries Group Corporation, and
China Electronic Science and Technology Corporation. Each is responsible for the
organization and administration of its R&D and manufacture, and exercising the
rights of an investor authorized by the state over state-owned assets in its
subordinate enterprises.
China's defense-related science, technology and industry gives priority to the
development of new- and high-tech weaponry and equipment, and strives to raise
their modernization level. It is imperative to speed up the adjustment of
capability, structure and layout, enhance capability in research and production
of new- and high-tech weaponry, streamline the work force of military industry,
optimize the industrial layout, and gradually establish a new system of
defense-related science, technology and industry. It is imperative to further
strengthen the development of defense- related science and technology, promote
the progress of science and technology, concentrate resources to make
breakthroughs in a number of key technologies, enhance the capability of self-
reliance and innovation and sustained development capability in defense-related
science, technology and industry, and strive to achieve leapfrog technological
progress. It is imperative to bring up talented people and create a
well-structured contingent of high- caliber people in a whole array of
disciplines needed for the development of defense-related science, technology
and industry. At present, in China's defense-related science, technology and
industry, 141 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese
Academy of Engineering are active, of which 52 are academicians of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, 95 are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering,
and 6 belong to both academies.
The Chinese government has always stressed the peaceful use of military
industrial technology, and encouraged and supported defense-related science,
technology and industry to bring its technological and human resource advantages
into full play, and develop dual-purpose technologies and new- and high-tech
industries, and thus promoted the development of the national economy. Nuclear
power for civil use should be industrialized. Civil aerospace technologies have
made remarkable achievements in the applied satellite, carrier rocket, and
manned spaceship. The " Long March" series of carrier rockets have successfully
launched 27 foreign-made satellites, entitling China to a position in the
international commercial satellite launching service market. In 1999, 2001 and
2002, China successfully launched in succession three experimental unmanned
spaceships, marking a breakthrough for China in mastering basic manned spaceship
technology. This has provided a solid foundation for China to send a manned
spaceship into space. The aviation industry for civil use, while strengthening
technological research, expanding sub-contracting scope for production, and
improving existing plane models, has made important headway in manufacturing
general-purpose aircraft and the "Xinzhou 60" aircraft, and has begun the R&D of
new feeder liners. The shipbuilding industry for civil use has already become a
highly competitive pillar export industry among China's electromechanical
industries. In recent years, China's shipbuilding output has continuously
increased, ranking third in the world for seven consecutive years. The
accomplished shipbuilding output in 2001 accounted for six percent of the world
's total.
China's defense-related science, technology and industry endeavors to establish
and perfect an organizational system and an operational mechanism tailored to
the needs of national defense building and the socialist market economy. It
encourages a specialized division of labor, gradually forms a new multi-tiered
cooperative system of principal weaponry contractors, sub- contractors and
suppliers of parts and components. It also presses forward with the strategic
reorganization of military industrial enterprises and institutions, optimizes
the allocation of resources, develops core industries, and gradually forms a
batch of internationally competitive conglomerates. It makes efforts to deepen
the reform of military industrial enterprises, establish a modern enterprise
system, and push forward the diversification of investors of the enterprises and
transformation of operational mechanisms so as to enable these enterprises to
turn into market competitors operating independently and responsible for their
own profits or losses. The defense-related science, technology and industry
stresses the reform of its sci-tech system, strengthens the organic integration
of production, education and research, and transforms the defense-related
science and technology into actual productivity. In addition, the
defense-related science, technology and industry adheres to opening-up, and
actively participates in international exchanges and cooperation in line with
the principles of the complementarity of each other's strengths, reciprocity,
mutual benefit and common development.
Land and Sea Border Defense
China pursues a policy of good neighborliness and friendship. It defends and
administers its land borders and seas under its jurisdiction, safeguards the
country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and secures
both its land and sea borders strictly in accordance with treaties and
agreements it has signed with neighboring countries, and the United Nations
Convention on Law of the Sea.
China advocates settling unresolved border and maritime demarcation issues
through negotiation, and demarcating maritime boundaries with neighboring
countries or countries contiguous to opposite coasts based on the principle of
equity, and opposes the use of force or provocative acts. China has solved or
basically solved boundary issues left over by history with most of its adjacent
countries. In December 2000, China and Viet Nam entered into the Beibu Gulf
Demarcation Agreement. In May 2002, China and Tajikistan signed the
Supplementary Agreement on the Boundary Between the People's Republic of China
and the Republic of Tajikistan.
China attaches importance to having frontier defense exchanges and cooperation
with neighboring countries, and jointly maintaining order along the borders.
China has signed treaties, agreements and understandings with Mongolia, Russia,
Myanmar, Viet Nam, Laos and India on border control and handling border affairs,
setting up confidence-building measures, and preventing dangerous military
activities. Since 1995, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense has signed
frontier cooperation agreements with the General Administration of Frontier
Defense of the Russian Federation and the Administration of Frontier Guards of
Mongolia. In January 2002, Chinese Ministry of National Defense and the National
Security Commission of Kazakhstan signed the Frontier Defense Cooperation
Agreement Between China and Kazakhstan. In April 2002, China sent a delegation
to attend the meeting of leaders of frontier defense authorities of the member
states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Alma-Ata. At the
meeting, the leaders of the frontier defense authorities of China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed that the frontier defense
authorities of the five states will, within the framework of the relevant
documents of the SCO and in accordance with the circumstances of the areas of
common borders of the member states, strengthen exchanges of information in
respect of frontier defense; further deepen corresponding bilateral and
multilateral cooperation; take effective measures for the joint fight against
terrorism, separatism and extremism, and for preventing cross-border criminal
activities of all forms; safeguard order along the common borders of member
states; and provide powerful guarantee for the development of good
neighborliness and friendship and economic, trade and cultural relations between
the member states. China's frontier authorities and frontier troops faithfully
implement relevant treaties, agreements and understandings, actively establish
or improve the systems for consultation, frontier defense talks and meetings
with counterparts of neighboring countries, carry out frontier defense contacts
and cooperation at various levels, and deal appropriately with border affairs.
Therefore, mutual understanding, trust and friendship between China and
neighboring countries have been increased, and a peaceful and friendly
atmosphere along borders has been created.
The Chinese government attaches importance to border area development and
endeavors to promote transportation, communications, culture, education, public
health, radio and television services in border areas. Since 1996, the State
Frontier Defense Commission has organized the construction of frontier defense
infrastructure on a large scale in nine overland frontier provinces and
autonomous regions, which has effectively improved the administrative conditions
of border areas, and given impetus to economic and social development there.
While earnestly performing their duties and unremittingly improving themselves,
the land and sea border defense forces have actively participated in and
supported local economic development and the building of spiritual civilization.
This has helped to strengthen the relations between the armed forces and the
local governments, and between the military and civilians, and to safeguard
political and social stability, and the unity of ethnic groups in frontier
regions.
Civil Air Defense
China's civil air defense sector implements the concept of people's war. In view
of wartime requirements, and based on the economic capability of the country, it
relies on the broad masses, gives play to the initiatives of the central and
local governments, ensures its readiness to provide effective protection. The
basic tasks of civil air defense include: spreading knowledge of air defense
among the people; building all types of protection projects; setting up a civil
air defense communications and warning system; making plans for personnel and
material evacuation; organizing and training specialized air defense
contingents; guarding and protecting important facilities of the national
economy; and in wartime, organizing and directing people to protect themselves
against air-raids. In accordance with the needs for preparation against war,
China has identified cities and regions for the conduct of civil air defense,
and urban civil air defense is taken as the focal point of civil air defense.
The civil air defense sector adopts a system of joint leadership by the people's
governments and military organs. The State Council and the CMC exercise
leadership over civil air defense nationwide. Authorized by the State Council
and the CMC, the military area commands exercise leadership over civil air
defense in their respective regions. Local people's governments at the county
level and above and the corresponding military organs exercise leadership over
civil air defense in their respective administrative areas. The administrative
organ in charge of nationwide civil air defense is in the General Staff
Headquarters, and those in charge of the military area civil air defense are in
the headquarters of the military area commands. The administrative organs in
charge of civil air defense at the county level and above are in the people's
governments at the same level. The relevant departments in charge of planning,
programming and construction in the people's governments at the county level and
above are responsible for relevant civil air defense within their respective
scopes of duties.
The civil air defense sector adheres to the policy of long-term readiness,
construction of key projects, and combination of peacetime footing with wartime
footing, and implements the principle of developing in coordination with
economic construction and in combination with urban construction. In peacetime,
the state carries out civil air defense construction, divides cities into
different categories for protection, incorporates civil air defense construction
into the national socio-economic development program, integrates the civil air
defense construction plan into the overall urban development plan, and ensures
the smooth operation of the civil air defense communications and warning system.
The state protects civil air defense facilities from being damaged, adopts a
preferential policy toward construction of air defense facilities, and
encourages and supports enterprises, institutions, social organizations and
individuals to invest in civil air defense construction projects. In peacetime,
the state encourages submission of civil air defense projects to the service of
economic development and people's daily needs; the use of civil air defense
communications and warning facilities for emergency rescue and disaster relief,
and assumption by civil air defense organs and specialized contingents of rescue
and relief missions assigned by people's governments. To meet the needs of the
changing situations, civil air defense will gradually be integrated with
disaster prevention, and capabilities in rapid- reaction, damage-resistance,
emergency rescue and self-improvement will be enhanced so as to cope with modern
warfare and serious disasters and accidents, and effectively protect citizens'
lives and property.
China has promulgated and implemented the Civil Air Defense Law of the PRC, and
formulated a number of auxiliary civil air defense regulations. China sets store
by cooperation and exchanges in respect of civil air defense with countries
worldwide, and joined the International Civil Defense Organization in 1992.
Participating in and Supporting the Development of the Western Region
The development of China's western region is important to the country's economy,
politics and national defense. In accordance with the strategic decision for the
large-scale development of the western region made by the state, the CMC has
established a special leading group and a dedicated office, and made unified
arrangements. The PLA and the Armed Police Force have contributed more than 1.5
million troops and 450,000 motor vehicles and machines to actively participate
in and support the western region development efforts.
Concentrating strength on supporting the construction of key infrastructure
projects. The Chinese armed forces regard the participation in the construction
of transportation, energy, water conservancy and communications projects as the
focal points in supporting the development of the western region. They have
engaged in the expansion or reconstruction of 8 airports, 3 national highways
and 4 expressways; the construction of 9 energy facilities such as pipelines,
natural gas fields and oil-and-gas fields; the construction of 7 hydropower
stations and 19 trunk diversion channels; and the laying of 8 optic
telecommunications cables totaling more than 20,000 km.
Taking part in the protection and construction of the ecological environment.
The armed forces stationed in the western region have, in order to improve the
ecological environment, taken an active part in activities such as forestation,
sand prevention and control, closing mountains to facilitate forestation, and
restoring the reclaimed land to forests and grasslands. They have planted trees
in an area of more than 3 million mu (one mu equals one fifteenth of a hectare),
sown grass on more than 1.8 million mu of land, and restored more than 1.5
million mu of reclaimed land to forests and grasslands. Technical troops
specializing in mapping, meteorology, water supply and aviation have provided
such services as geographic survey, weather forecast, water source exploration,
aerial sowing and artificial precipitation in the western region.
Providing talented personnel, and intellectual and technical support. Chinese
armed forces have selected and transferred professionals from military colleges
and schools, hospitals and scientific research institutes to support the
development of the western region; arranged, in a planned way, demobilized
officers to work in the western region; encouraged or persuaded demobilized
soldiers from densely populated areas to settle in the west; and assigned
increased numbers of soldiers from the western region to units stationed in
developed areas, so as to help the cultivation of talents and the renewal of
thinking for the development of the western region. Some colleges and schools,
hospitals and scientific research institutes have actively provided services to
the western region by way of jointly running schools, sponsoring short-term
training courses, offering diseases prevention and treatment assistance, and
transferring achievements of scientific and technological research.
Opening and developing military facilities. On the premise of ensuring military
security, the armed forces have opened 5 military airports, more than 200
military rail lines, 30 oil pipelines, 70 communication lines and more than 100
rear area warehouses for civilian use. Some of the military farms, real estate,
support enterprises and army horse-breeding farms have been handed over to local
authorities. The armed forces have improved such facilities for preparation
against war as air traffic control and frontier defense roads, in order to
support the development of the civil transportation.
Carrying out activities to help the poor and needy. The armed forces stationed
in the western region have sent officers and men to help repair roads, install
electricity lines, sink wells, teach useful skills and develop a diversified
economy. These efforts have enabled more than 200,000 local people to get rid of
poverty. The armed forces have also helped build or enlarge more than 300 middle
and primary schools, and helped more than 50,000 school dropouts return to
class. In addition, 100 PLA hospitals have made arrangements with 105 local
county hospitals in the poor areas of the western region to provide assistance.
V. Armed Forces Building
In compliance with the general requirements of being qualified politically and
competent militarily and having a fine style of work, strict discipline and
adequate logistical support, and focusing on the two historic tasks of being
capable of winning and never degenerating, the PLA strives to strengthen its
overall development and form a revolutionary, modernized and regularized
people's army.
Military Training
The PLA strives to adapt itself to the characteristics of modern warfare, takes
enhancement of the capability of defensive operations under high-tech conditions
as the main objective, and continuously strengthens and improves military
training.
Over the past two years, the PLA has quickened its steps in transforming the
training -- from the conventional training to one featuring new technology. It
has made full use of modern science and technology to organize and implement
military training. In October 2000, the General Staff Headquarters organized a
large- scale high-tech military exercise in the vicinity of Beijing and used
such new and high technologies as computer networking, reconnaissance sensing,
ECM and simulation to drill and test the new operational concepts, weaponry and
training methods. The latest achievements gained in military training featuring
new technologies were exchanged among the troops.
In line with the new generation of operational doctrines, the PLA focuses on the
studies and training of joint operations. The annual regular exercises organized
by the military area commands and services and arms all concentrate on joint
operations. In the spring and summer of 2001, both Nanjing and Guangzhou
military area commands organized field exercises with joint landing operations
as the backdrop, focusing on the coordination of joint and combined arms landing
operation, and drew useful lessons on how to organize, support and manage joint
training, ground force amphibious landing training, and training of rapid
reserve mobilization. In addition, the general headquarters/departments
organized successive studies and exercises of communications and command at the
joint operational level, training of landing and mountain operations, and
research on methods of joint penetration operations, and explored the features
and patterns of integrated network and electronic warfare. The PLA has enforced
new military training regulations and strengthened regularized training. On the
basis of extensively absorbing the achievements of the armed forces' training
reform and the experience gained in troop training featuring new technologies,
the General Staff Headquarters revised and adjusted the system of content of the
PLA's military training, promulgated the Outline of Military Training and
Evaluation in July 2001, and organized a training course of the Outline in a
combined corps in northern China in September 2001. In September 2002, the CMC
promulgated the new Regulations on Military Training of the PLA comprehensively
and systematically standardizing the organization, leadership and administration
of military training.
The PLA has continued to deepen the reform of institutional education. In line
with the general concept of "running schools in large scale, modernizing
teaching, regularizing administration and outsourcing logistic support," the PLA
has further improved its new system of institutional education and established a
teaching system consonant with military, sci-tech and educational developments.
In recent years, on the basis of fulfilling the major construction tasks of 18
colleges and schools, 60 disciplines and 31 laboratories, the PLA has launched
the Key Construction Project of Military Colleges and Schools, whereby efforts
are being focused on 67 domains of disciplines and specialties, and 178 research
centers. So far 58 have been qualified as state-level key disciplines and
specialties. The general headquarters/departments have promulgated the first
catalogue of disciplines and specialties of the PLA's colleges and schools, thus
setting up a new system of disciplines and specialties. Deepening teaching
reform with teaching content as the focal point, colleges and schools of the PLA
have formulated a new teaching program, implemented a key teaching material
development project, and perfected the teaching appraisal system. At the same
time, informationization and networking of teaching have been promoted, and an
information network platform for the armed forces' teaching and scientific
research has been initially put in place, giving shape to a training information
network linking PLA's colleges and schools and having nearly 100,000 websites
and centers.Political Work
The political work of the PLA is the ideological and organizational work of the
CPC in the armed forces. It is the fundamental guarantee for the absolute
leadership of the Party over the armed forces, and the assurance on maintaining
and improving combat effectiveness of the troops. It is the lifeline of the PLA.
The PLA's political work implements the aim of serving the people
wholeheartedly; guarantees the Party's absolute leadership over the armed
forces; adheres to the principle of seeking unity between officers and men and
between the military and the people, and demoralizing and disintegrating the
enemy, with ideological- political education as the central link; operates a
system featuring political democracy, economic democracy and military democracy;
and enforces the Three Main Rules of Discipline and the Eight Points for
Attention. The PLA's political work implements the Party committee (Party
branch) system, political leader system and political organ system. The Party
committee (Party branch) system stipulates that a Party committee shall be set
up in a unit at or above the regiment level, a grass-roots Party committee in a
unit at the battalion or corresponding level, and a Party branch in a unit at
the company or corresponding level. Party committees (Party branches) at various
levels are the core of the centralized leadership and unity of the unit
concerned. The system of leading cadres assuming separate responsibilities under
the unified collective leadership of the Party committee (Party branch) is the
fundamental system for Party leadership over the armed forces. The political
leader system stipulates that a political commissar shall be appointed to a unit
at or above the regiment level, a political director to a battalion, and a
political instructor to a company. The political commissar, political director
and political instructor, together with the chief military officers at the same
level, are the chief leaders of their units, assuming joint responsibility for
all work in their units under the leadership of the Party committees (Party
branches) at the same level. The political commissar, political director and
political instructor are organizers of the day-to-day work of the Party
committees ( Party branches) and leaders of political work. The political organ
system stipulates that a political department (section) shall be set up in a
unit at or above the regiment level, and a general political department for the
PLA; and that the political organs are the leading body of the political work in
a unit, responsible for administering Party work and organizing the
implementation of the political work.
The political work of the PLA persists in advancing with the times, breaking new
ground and making innovations, keeping pace with profound changes in the
international situation and the military field, adapting itself to the rapid
development of the socialist market economy, striving to provide strong
spiritual motivation for winning future high-tech wars, and furnishing a
reliable political guarantee for maintaining the nature, character and work
style of the people's army. In recent years, the CPC Central Committee has
promulgated the new Regulations on the Political Work of the PLA, the CMC has
promulgated the Outline for Armed Forces Construction at the Grass-Roots Level,
and the General Political Department has released Decisions on Some Issues
Concerning the PLA Ideological-Political Work Under the Conditions of the Reform
and Opening-up and the Development of a Socialist Market Economy and Opinions on
Strengthening and Improving Ideological-Political Education of the Army in the
New Situation. The PLA has actively studied and implemented the important
thought of the "Three Represents," organized the rank and file to study the
Constitution and other state laws, the Party's basic theories, and scientific
and cultural knowledge, and conducted education in patriotism, collectivism and
revolutionary heroism by establishing military history museums in units at and
above the regiment level, and honor exhibition in companies. The PLA has issued
an ethical code for servicemen, organized the composition of moral songs, set up
a PLA-wide publicity, cultural and information network, improved cultural
facilities in barracks, set up cultural clubs in companies, and established
cultural centers in units at and above the regiment level. The PLA has carried
out psychological education and legal consultation, and has established
psychological education and legal consultation mechanisms that rely mainly on
brigade or regiment political organs and grass- roots political officers and
integrate the political work system with the related specialty system.Logistical
Support
The PLA strives actively to reform its logistical structure and system,
construct a modern logistical support system and constantly enhance its
logistical support capabilities.
The introduction of the joint logistics system is a major reform of the
logistical support system of the PLA. The joint logistics system is based on
military area commands. It combines regional support with organic system support
and general supply support with special supply support. Unified general-purpose
material supply and service support are provided by military area commands, and
special material supply and service support are provided by the services and
arms through their organic channels. The General Logistics Department is in
charge of the PLA's joint logistics work. The military area command's joint
logistics department is in charge of the joint logistics work within a theater
of war. And the joint logistics sub-department is mainly responsible for
organizing and implementing the general-purpose support of the services and arms
within its support area. After more than two years' practice of reform, the
joint logistics system has been standardized gradually with notably improved
efficiency. The system will be further developed into one that integrates the
three armed services, unites the army with the people, and combines peacetime
and wartime footing.
In order to streamline the logistical support organizations and improve the
cost-effectiveness of defense expenditures, the PLA has carried out a reform
featuring the socialization of logistical support in non-combat units at and
above the corps level, and in military colleges and schools and hospitals in
large and medium- sized cities. After nearly three years of effort, substantial
progress has been achieved in this regard, including reform in food and
commercial services, barracks, and the administration of civilian employees.
Reform has also been carried out, on a trial basis, in non-military
transportation, fuel supply and the monetized supply of clothing. So far, the
PLA has already had more than 1,500 messes run by civilian services, more than
1,000 post exchanges integrated into civilian service systems, more than 1, 800
barracks managed by real estate companies, approximately 300 support enterprises
and farms transferred to central and local authorities, reducing a total number
of more than 300,000 institutional and business employees. In order to promote
the reform of socialization of military logistical support and to ensure the
development of the reform, in September 2002, the State Council and the CMC
issued an Announcement Concerning the Issues of Advancing the Reform of Military
Logistical Support, and in October, the CMC approved and transmitted the General
Logistics Department's Opinions on Some Issues Concerning the Socialization of
Military Logistical Support.
In March 2001, the PLA began to reform the budgetary planning system. Drawing on
the internationally adopted budgeting method, the PLA reformed its budgeting
form, method and content extensively, with emphasis placed on implementation of
the zero- base budget method, so as to give full play to the budget's macro-
control role and gradually establish a new budgeting pattern featuring the
concentration of financial power and resources, scientific distribution of
military expenditures, concrete and transparent itemization, and tight
supervision and control.
In January 2002, the PLA carried out an across-the-board reform of the
procurement system, focusing mainly on concentrated procurement and procurement
through public bidding, and set up a mechanism for sectional management, which
features cooperation with proper division of labor and mutual restriction.
High-value, large-quantity, general-purpose materials are procured in a
concentrated way by relying mainly on the material procurement departments. Bulk
materials with one-time procurement value exceeding RMB 500,000 yuan, and
projects newly built, expanded, or revamped each involving an investment of over
RMB 2 million yuan are undertaken through public bidding.
Currently, the method of combining military support with social support,
government house with self-owned house, and supply in kind with supply in money
is adopted for PLA officers' housing system. Officers of all ranks and all
military branches are provided with appropriate housing support. Active-service
officers live mainly in government houses. Retired officers are entitled mainly
to purchase the houses they are living in or other affordable houses.
Demobilized officers and noncommissioned officers transferred to civilian posts
should be ensured of housing benefits mainly by subsidies and incorporation into
the social security system.
The PLA constantly strengthens the development of its logistical equipment and
upgrades its logistical support means. In 2001, it carried out coordinative
experiments in the overall support capability of logistical equipment
organically and systematically; developed logistical equipment in seven aspects
-- rapid maritime rescue and treatment of the wounded, shore party support, air
field support, mobility support for missile units, air-dropped material support,
individual support and field logistics command; and completed the demonstration,
R&D and testing of 86 kinds of new equipment. In order to obtain and process
information on the resources, requirements and conditions of logistical support
real-time and in a precise and transparent way, the PLA is doing research on a
video logistics system. In July 2002, the CMC promulgated the Regulations on the
Logistical Equipment of the PLA to promote the regularized development of
logistical equipment.
Weaponry and Equipment
In line with the needs of high-tech military developments and defense
operations, the PLA conscientiously implements the principle of building a
strong military through science and technology and giving first place to
quality, so as to upgrade and accelerate the development of military equipment.
The weaponry and equipment management system and mechanism have further
improved. Following the founding of the General Armaments Department in April
1998, the services and arms, military area commands and combat units at the
corps, division and regiment levels have all set up their armaments departments
(sections), and further strengthened unified leadership over weaponry and
equipment development, and the across-the-board and life-cycle management of
military equipment, thus effectively improving the overall efficiency. In
December 2000, the CMC promulgated the first Regulations on Armaments of the
PLA, which standardizes the organization and leadership, division of
responsibilities and management procedures of the PLA's armament-related work.
The CMC promulgated the Regulations on the Armament Maintenance Work of the PLA
in June 2002, and the Outline of Operational Equipment Support of the PLA in
October 2002. These rules and regulations concerning armament-related work have
promoted the development of the work along scientific, regularized and legal
lines.
The modernization level of weaponry and equipment has undergone constant
improvement. The PLA persists in stressing self-reliance and independent
innovation, and actively develops military equipment with advanced foreign
technology. In compliance with the needs of future defense operations in
high-tech conditions, the PLA mainly develops weaponry and equipment featuring
new and high technology, while upgrading and modernizing current weaponry and
equipment selectively, so as to accomplish the historical tasks of mechanization
and IT-application of military equipment. A Chinese- style weaponry and
equipment system, with a relatively complete variety and a good structure, has
thus come into shape.
Weaponry and equipment management capability has been notably enhanced. The PLA
manages and uses existing weaponry and equipment conscientiously and in a proper
way, and constantly enhances its ability to manage new-type weapons. The forces
at and below the corps level have universally established and improved rules and
regulations for weaponry management, exercised standardized management of
equipment-related finance, and carried out examination and appraisal relating to
the scientific, institutional and regular management of weaponry and equipment.
At the same time, they have organized training courses in the use and management
of new-type equipment, trained personnel in equipment management and
technological support, improved the management of support facilities, and
succeeded in developing the combat and support capabilities of military
equipment organically and systematically.
The weapon and equipment procurement system is being gradually reformed. The PLA
seeks actively to meet the requirements of the socialist market economy and
improvement of weapons and equipment, and vigorously promotes the reform. The
armament departments perform the functions of the principal responsible party in
weapon and equipment ordering, and institutes contractual management in the
research, procurement and maintenance of weapons and equipment in accordance
with state and PLA regulations. In recent years, the PLA has persisted in
introducing the mechanism of competition into its procurement process, gradually
instituted a public bidding and tendering system, introduced and improved
mechanisms of competition, appraisal, supervision and motivation, further
strengthened the fostering of factory-based military representatives, and
perfected the quality certification system, thereby improving the efficiency of
the weapon and equipment expenditures, and the cost-effectiveness of weaponry
research and production.
Cadre Training
The PLA persists in taking the training of high-quality military personnel of a
new type as a fundamental measure for promoting a leapfrog development of the
armed forces' modernization.
Cadres of the PLA include officers and non-ranking cadres. In recent years, the
PLA has constantly raised the training level of officer candidates, adjusted the
sources of officer candidates, and established a scientific and justified system
for training such candidates, resulting in a marked improvement in the training
level, quality and efficiency of military personnel. At present, more than 80%
of the PLA's cadres have received junior college or higher education. More than
30,000 have doctor's or master's degrees, and many of them hold leading posts at
the division or regiment level. At the same time, in order to draw on the useful
armed forces building experiences of other countries, particularly developed
countries, the PLA has since 1996 sent nearly 1,000 servicemen to study in over
20 countries, a considerable number of them being commanding or technical
officers at the division or regiment level.
Both the Law of the PRC on Officers in Active Service passed by the Standing
Committee of the NPC in December 2000 and the Regulations on Non-Ranking
Officers of the PLA issued by the CMC in June 1999 explicitly stipulate that
commanding officers and non- ranking officers without technical specialty, as
well as ranking officers with technical specialty and non-ranking officers with
technical specialty should receive training at relevant colleges and schools or
other training institutions before their promotion; and that cadres in leading
organs should have undergone training at appropriate colleges or schools.
Cadre's on-the-job training is gradually undergoing a change from academic
credentials education to all-round continuing education. Except for a small
number of cadres who have to take academic credentials education, the
overwhelming majority of cadres would update their knowledge mainly through
short-term training.
In May 2000, the State Council and the CMC promulgated the Decision on
Establishing a System for Training Military Cadres by Reliance on Regular
Institutions of Higher Learning, clearly stressing the role of regular higher
education in the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, so as
to widen the channel for the selection and training of high-caliber personnel
for the military. So far, more than 50 institutions of higher learning,
including Peking University and Tsinghua University, have undertaken the task of
training personnel for the armed forces, providing a large batch of outstanding
personnel for the PLA each year.
To meet the requirement of building a strong military through science and
technology, the PLA pays great attention to the training of high-level
personnel. In the past two years, the PLA's mobile post-doctoral stations and
doctor's or master's degree authorization centers have increased by large
margins, the academic degree authorization system has been improved gradually,
and the training scale has been enlarged substantially. In May 2002, the
Academic Degree Commission under the State Council examined and approved the
Plan of Setting Up Specialties for the Master Degree of Military Science, and
decided on the setting up of specialties for the master degree of military
science as an experiment, marking a new stage in the training of high-level
professionals for the armed forces.
The PLA regards the exchange of cadres as an important channel for training and
tempering them and raising their quality. The Law of the PRC on Officers in
Active Service further clarifies and standardizes the exchange of officers. The
Regulations on the Appointment and Removal of the PLA Officers in Active Service
promulgated by the CMC in January 2002 lays down concrete stipulations on the
condition, scope, organization and implementation of officer exchange. In
accordance with the Interim Provisions on the Rotation of Cadres of the PLA
Garrison in Hong Kong promulgated in December 1998, a regular rotation system
has been instituted for all cadres of the garrison force in Hong Kong, and three
batches of cadres have so far been rotated. A rotation system of this kind has
also been instituted for the PLA Garrison in Macao.
VI. International Security Cooperation
International security cooperation is playing an increasingly important role in
maintaining world and regional peace and stability. The Chinese government pays
great attention to and actively participates in international security
cooperation, and advocates the development of international security cooperation
on the basis of the UN Charter, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and
other universally recognized norms of international relations.
Regional Security Cooperation
Conducting dialogue and cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries is an important
content of China's policy concerning Asia-Pacific security, and a component part
of its policy of good- neighborliness and friendship. China persists in building
a good- neighborly relationship and partnership with its neighbors and
strengthens regional cooperation constantly. Over the past two years, China has
worked hard to boost the formation and development of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), and continued to support and participate in the ASEAN
Regional Forum ( ARF), Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building
Measures in Asia (CICA), Council on Security Cooperation in the Asia- Pacific
Region (CSCAP), Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) and other activities
for multilateral security dialogue and cooperation, thus playing a positive role
in deepening regional security cooperation with Asian characteristics.
In June 2001, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
founded the SCO. This organization is a regional multilateral cooperation body
established on the basis of the " Shanghai Five." Since its founding, it has
signed and published in succession the Shanghai Convention on Combating
Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the joint communique of the defense
ministers, the statement of the prime ministers, the statement of leaders of the
law-enforcement and security departments, and the joint statement of the foreign
ministers. At the SCO St. Petersburg Summit held in June 2002, the heads of
state of the six countries signed three important legal and political documents
-- the Charter of the SCO, the Agreement on a Regional Anti-Terrorist Agency and
the Declaration of the Heads of State of the SCO Member Countries. The SCO has
initiated a new security concept, a new pattern for regional cooperation, and
state-to-state relations of a new type, strengthened trust and cooperation in
the military field, beefed up substantive cooperation in the fight against
terrorism, separatism and extremism, and reached a consensus on mutual
assistance in preventing and peacefully solving international conflicts. The SCO
propagates the "Shanghai Spirit" that features mutual trust, mutual benefit,
equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and seeking common
development, and actively promotes the establishment of a fair and rational new
international political and economic order, thus advancing regional security and
stability.
China endorses the CICA aim and principle of strengthening trust and cooperation
and safeguarding regional security, and has developed constructive and friendly
cooperation with all its member countries. In June 2002, the first CICA summit
meeting passed the Alma-Ata Document and the Declaration on Eliminating
Terrorism and Promoting Dialogue Among Civilizations. The CICA has scored
important achievements in its activities.
China supports the ARF in its continuous advance toward its set goal. China has
consistently taken an active part in the ARF foreign ministers' meetings, senior
officials' meetings and unofficial meetings. China has undertaken the project of
the ARF ocean information website and formally opened it to service; attended
the ARF experts' group meeting on confidence-building measures against
transnational crimes; submitted a country report on the question of
transnational crimes; and regularly submitted annual security prospect reports
to the ARF. At the Eighth ARF Foreign Ministers' Conference, held in 2001, China
declared its readiness to support the ARF's efforts to gradually develop
dialogue and cooperation in non-traditional security fields, and reiterated its
proposal on reporting on, and sending personnel to observe, multilateral joint
military exercises. In May 2002, China submitted to the ARF Senior Officials'
Conference the Document Concerning China's Stand in Strengthening Cooperation in
Non- Traditional Security Fields. At the Ninth ARF Foreign Ministers'
Conference, held in July 2002, China submitted the Document Concerning China's
Stand in Regard to the New Security Concept, emphasizing the need to jointly
cultivate a new security concept, enhance trust through dialogue, and promote
security through cooperation. The Joint Declaration of ASEAN and China on
Cooperation in the Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues released in November
2002, initiated full cooperation between ASEAN and China in the field of
non-traditional security issues. In September 2002, China held the ARF seminar
on military logistics outsourcing support in Beijing.
Cooperation between ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) is
an important channel for East Asian leaders to exchange views on strengthening
cooperation in the region, and is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding,
trust and mutually beneficial cooperation among East Asian countries. China
values and actively participates in this cooperation. It advocates that it
should be expanded into all-directional cooperation on the existing basis, that
dialogue and cooperation in the political and security fields be gradually
developed on the principles of achieving unity through consultation and making
steady advance, and that this cooperation be started with cooperation in the
non- traditional fields of security. After more than four years' development,
this cooperation has made marked progress.
The Chinese armed forces have participated in security dialogue and cooperation
in the Asia-Pacific region. In January 2002, Chinese officers observed the naval
mine clearance exercise sponsored by Singapore in the West Pacific region. In
April 2002, Chinese officers observed the submarine search and rescue exercise
sponsored by Japan in the West Pacific region. In May 2002, China sent officers
to observe the "Cobra Gold" joint military exercises staged by the United
States, Thailand and Singapore. China intends to selectively and gradually
participate in more multilateral joint military exercises in the non-traditional
fields of security in the future.
Anti-Terrorism Cooperation
In recent years, terrorist activities have notably increased, and constitute a
real threat to world peace and development. The " September 11" terrorist
attack, which caused a great loss of lives and property, has aroused the
universal concern of the international community. China, too, is a victim of
terrorism. The "East Turkistan" terrorist forces are a serious threat to the
security of the lives and property of the people of all China's ethnic groups,
as well as to the country's social stability. On September 11, 2002, the UN
Security Council, in response to a common demand from China, the United States,
Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, formally included the "East Turkistan Islamic
Movement " on its list of terrorist organizations. The Chinese government has
always resolutely opposed and condemned all forms of terrorism, and has actively
adopted effective measures to fight against terrorist activities.
The Chinese government is of the view that the international community should
strengthen dialogue and consultation and develop cooperation, join hands in
preventing and fighting against international terrorist activities, and make
efforts to eradicate the root cause of terrorism. The fight against terrorism
requires conclusive evidence, clear targets and conformity with the purpose and
principles of the UN Charter, and the universally acknowledged norms of
international laws. In this regard, the leading role of the UN and its Security
Council should be brought into full play, and all actions taken should be
conducive to the long-term interest of preserving regional and world peace.
Terrorism should not be confused with a specific nation or religion, neither
should dual standards be adopted in the fight against terrorism. The
international community should make common efforts to resolutely condemn and
attack terrorism whenever and wherever it occurs, whoever it is directed against
and in whatever form it appears. In fighting terrorism, it is necessary to
address both its symptoms and root cause, and adopt comprehensive measures,
especially in solving the question of development, narrowing the North-South
gap, and ending regional conflicts.
China supports and has conscientiously implemented a series of resolutions on
the anti-terrorism issue passed by the United Nations and its Security Council,
and has submitted to the Security Council Anti-Terrorism Commission a report on
the implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 1373. China has acceded to
the International Convention on Stopping Terrorist Explosions, and signed the
International Conventio