II. National Defense Policy
China pursues a nationaldefense policy that is defensive in nature. The Constitution of the People's Republic ofChina (PRC) and the National Defense Law of the PRC, which is enacted in accordance withthe Constitution, specify the tasks of the armed forces of the PRC as being to consolidatenational defense, resist aggression, defend the motherland, safeguard the people'speaceful labor, participate in national construction and serve the people wholeheartedly.China has always attached primary importance tosafeguarding state sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security, and has beenworking hard for a peaceful international and a favorable peripheral environment forChina's socialist modernization drive. The development and powerfulness of China willconstitute no threat to anyone, but will rather promote the world peace, stability anddevelopment. Never to seek hegemony is the Chinese people's solemn pledge to the world.
China's defense policy has the following mainaspects- Consolidating national defense, resisting aggression, curbing armed subversion,and defending state sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security. China'sefforts in defense modernization are purely for self-defense. China spares no effort toavoid and curb war, and to solve international disputes and questions left over by historythrough peaceful means. However, in view of the fact that hegemonism and power politicsstill exist and are further developing, and in particular, the basis for the country'speaceful reunification is seriously imperiled, China will have to enhance its capabilityto defend its sovereignty and security by military means.
- Building and consolidating national defenseindependently and through self-reliance. China stresses self-reliance as the basis forsafeguarding state security, and insists on making national defense policies anddevelopment strategies independently. China does not seek alliance with any country orbloc of countries, nor does it participate in any military bloc. China builds its defensescience, technology and industry and develops its weaponry through self-reliance.
- Implementing the military strategy of activedefense. Strategically, China pursues a principle featuring defensive operations,self-defense and gaining mastery by striking only after the enemy has struck. Such defensecombines efforts to deter war with preparations to win self-defense wars in time of peace,and strategic defense with operational and tactical offensive operations in time of war.While basing themselves on existing weaponry and carrying forward their fine traditions,China's armed forces seek to adapt to profound changes in the world's military sphere, andprepare for defensive operations under modern, especially high-tech, conditions.
- Building a lean and strong military force theChinese way. In line with the general requirements of being qualified politically,competent militarily, and having a fine work style, a strong sense of discipline andadequate logistical support, the Chinese armed forces strive to strengthen their overalldevelopment and form a revolutionized, modernized and regularized people's army withChinese characteristics. China adheres to building the armed forces by enhancing theirquality, strengthening the armed forces by relying on science and technology, and managingthe armed forces according to law, and is endeavoring to transform its armed forces from anumerically superior to a qualitatively superior type, and from a manpower-intensive to atechnology-intensive type, as well as to train high-quality military personnel and improvethe modernization level of weaponry in order to comprehensively enhance the armed forces'combat effectiveness.
- Combining the armed forces with the people andpracticing self-defense by the whole people. China adheres to the concept of people's warunder modern conditions, and exercises the combination of a streamlined standing army witha powerful reserve force for national defense. The reserve force and militia aremaintained at an appropriate scale, with an optimized structure and an enhanced level oftraining. In the light of the principle of combining peacetime footing with wartimefooting and the army with the people, and having reserve soldiers among the people, Chinaworks hard to popularize and promote defense education, perfect the defense mobilizationsystem and enhance the defense mobilization capacity.
- Subordinating national defense to, and placing itin the service of, the nation's overall economic construction, and achieving theircoordinated development. Developing the economy and strengthening national defense are twostrategic tasks in China's modernization efforts. The Chinese government insists thateconomic development be taken as the center, while defense work be subordinate to and inthe service of the nation's overall economic construction. Meanwhile, along with economicdevelopment, the state strives to enhance its national defense strength, to effectivelysupport the armed forces in their efforts to improve their quality and to form a mechanismwhich enables national defense and economic development to promote each other and developin harmony.
- Safeguarding world peace, and opposing aggressionand expansion. China resolutely opposes hegemonism and power politics, and combats thepolicies of war, aggression and expansion. China also objects to any country imposing inany form its own political system and ideology on other countries. China does not seekmilitary expansion, nor does it station troops or set up military bases in any foreigncountry. China opposes arms race, and supports the international community in its effortsto promote world and regional peace, security and stability.
China possesses a small number of nuclear weaponsentirely for self-defense. China undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons,and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. Chinadoes not participate in any nuclear arms race, and never deploys any nuclear weaponsbeyond its borders. China maintains a small but effective nuclear counterattacking forcein order to deter possible nuclear attacks by other countries. Any such attack willinevitably result in a retaliatory nuclear counterstrike by China. China has always keptthe number of its nuclear weapons at a low level. The scale, composition and developmentof China's nuclear force are in line with China's military strategy of active defense.China's nuclear force is under the direct command of the Central Military Commission(CMC). China is extremely cautious and responsible in the management of its nuclearweapons, and has established strict rules and regulations and taken effective measures toensure the safety and security of its nuclear weapons.
Settlement of the Taiwan issue and realization of the completereunification of China embodies the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. TheChinese government upholds the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, and onecountry, two systems" for settling the Taiwan issue, carrying forward the eightpropositions on the development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straitsand the promotion of the peaceful reunification of China. The Chinese government hasconsistently adhered to the one- China principle and will never give in or compromise onthe fundamental issues concerning state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The changeof the Taiwan regional leaders can not change the fact that Taiwan is a part of Chineseterritory. Settlement of the Taiwan issue is entirely an internal affair of China. TheChinese government firmly opposes any country selling arms to Taiwan, or entering intomilitary alliances in any form with Taiwan, as well as outside interference in any way.The Chinese government will do its utmost to achieve peaceful reunification, and advocatessettling differences through dialogues and negotiations on the basis of the one-Chinaprinciple. However, if a grave turn of events occurs leading to the separation of Taiwanfrom China in any name, or if Taiwan is invaded and occupied by foreign countries, or ifthe Taiwan authorities refuse, sine die, the peaceful settlement of cross- Straitsreunification through negotiations, then the Chinese government will have no choice but toadopt all drastic measures possible, including the use of force, to safeguard China'ssovereignty and territorial integrity, and achieve the great cause of reunification. The"Taiwan independence" means provoking war again, and fomenting splits meansrelinquishing peace across the Straits. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)unswervingly takes the will of the state as its supreme will and the national interests asits supreme interests. It has the absolute determination, confidence, ability and means tosafeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never tolerate, condone orremain indifferent to the realization of any scheme to divide the motherland.