Expert Deciphers White Paper on National Defense

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 13, 2002

Expert Deciphers White Paper on National Defense

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The Chinese government released a white paper titled "China's National Defense in 2002" on December 9, which stated for the first time that the basis for the formulation of China's national defense policy is China's national interests. And this statement was interpreted by senior colonel Chen Zhou, researcher with the strategy research dept. under the Academy of Military Sciences, as a significant bright spot of the national defense policy.

Mr. Chen Zhou stressed that the white paper holds optimistic over the security situation around the world, and China implements a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, whose formulation is based on the national interests.

To uphold national interests, as the White Paper curtly stated, national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security are protected; economy developed, overall national strength built; the socialist system upheld; social stability and harmony secured and an international environment of lasting peace and a favorable climate on China's periphery guaranteed.

Pinpointing that the white paper fully expounds major contents of China's military strategic guideline in the new period, Mr. Chen Zhou said, "They mainly include: winning local wars under modern, especially high-tech conditions, stressing the deterrence of war, and highlighting and carrying forward the concept of people's war."

China had from 1995 to 2000 issued three white papers on national defense. However, Mr. Chen Zhou held the 2002's has a more positive attitude towards the global security situation as compared with those of the past.

Mr. Chen Zhou also pointed out that the white paper intends to help other countries with a better understanding of China's national defense. No matter how militarily strong and economically prosperous the country is, China will never commit invasion, go in for expansionism or practice hegemonism. A developing country, China needs a peaceful international environment and a favorable climate on its periphery. And its development will make even greater contributions to world peace and human progress.

Defence expenditures kept at low level

China's defence expenditures have been kept at a fairly low level and the increases have been basically of a compensatory nature, according to Chen..

Chen said that China's defence expenditures have increased somewhat based on the country's continuous economic growth, but defence spending relative to State financial spending has been on the decline, from 17.37 per cent in 1979 to 7.65 per cent in 2001, a drop of nearly 10 percentage points.

The white paper indicates that increased defence spending in recent years has primarily been to meet increased personnel expenses, to establish and improve the social security system for servicemen, and increase the standard of living. Money has also gone to progressive office automation and co-operation with the international community on anti-terrorism activities.

Another portion of the spending increase was used to improve military equipment, and to enhance defence capabilities using high technologies.

"Our new military strategy is to win battles or wars with high technology," said Chen. "High technology takes more money."

Meanwhile, Chen said that compared with other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and France, China's defence expenditures are still at a fairly low level. "Our defence expenditure is less than 6 per cent of that of the US and about half that of Japan," Chen said.

By People's Daily Online

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