24 July 2019

Full Text of 2019 Defense White Paper: “China’s National Defense in the New Era” (English & Chinese Versions)

For a well-formatted bilingual PDF of the report complete with figures and appendices, check out the version Peter Wood has posted here!

Click here to download a Word doc of the English-language version.

 

China’s National Defense in the New Era

The State Council Information Office of
the People’s Republic of China

July 2019

First Edition 2019

ISBN 978-7-119-11925-0

© Foreign Languages Press Co. Ltd., Beijing, China, 2019

Published by Foreign Languages Press Co. Ltd.

24 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037, China

Distributed by China International Book Trading Corporation

35 Chegongzhuang Xilu, Beijing 100044, China

P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China

Printed in the People’s Republic of China 

 

Contents

Preface                                                                                                                1

I. International Security Situation                                                               2

II. China’s Defensive National Defense Policy in the New Era               7

III. Fulfilling the Missions and Tasks of China’s Armed Forces
in the New Era                                                                                         14

IV. Reform in China’s National Defense and Armed Forces                   22

V. Reasonable and Appropriate Defense Expenditure                             35

VI. Actively Contributing to Building a Community with a Shared
Future for Mankind                                                                                 42

Closing Remarks                                                                                             52

Appendices                                                                                                       53

Acronyms                                                     67

 

Preface

Today, with their interests and security intertwined, people across the world are becoming members of a community with a shared future. China is at a critical stage of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on the new journey of building a modernized socialist country in an all-round way. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era.

The Chinese government is issuing China’s National Defense in the New Era to expound on China’s defensive national defense policy and explain the practice, purposes and significance of China’s efforts to build a fortified national defense and a strong military, with a view to helping the international community better understand China’s national defense.

I. International Security Situation

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. As economic globalization, the information society, and cultural diversification develop in an increasingly multi-polar world, peace, development and win-win cooperation remain the irreversible trends of the times. Nonetheless, there are prominent destabilizing factors and uncertainties in international security. The world is not yet a tranquil place.

The International Strategic Landscape Is Going Through Profound Changes

As the realignment of international powers accelerates and the strength of emerging markets and developing countries keeps growing, the configuration of strategic power is becoming more balanced. The pursuit of peace, stability and development has become a universal aspiration of the international community with forces for peace predominating over elements of war. However, international security system and order are undermined by growing hegemonism, power politics, unilateralism and constant regional conflicts and wars.

International strategic competition is on the rise. The US has adjusted its national security and defense strategies, and adopted unilateral policies. It has provoked and intensified competition among major countries, significantly increased its defense expenditure, pushed for additional capacity in nuclear, outer space, cyber and missile defense, and undermined global strategic stability. NATO has continued its enlargement, stepped up military deployment in Central and Eastern Europe, and conducted frequent military exercises. Russia is strengthening its nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities for strategic containment, and striving to safeguard its strategic security space and interests. The European Union (EU) is accelerating its security and defense integration to be more independent in its own security.

Global and regional security issues are on the increase. International arms control and disarmament efforts have suffered setbacks, with growing signs of arms races. The non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains problematic. The international non-proliferation regime is compromised by pragmatism and double standards, and hence faces new challenges. Extremism and terrorism keep spreading. Non-traditional security threats involving cyber security, bio-security and piracy are becoming more pronounced. The Iranian nuclear issue has taken an unexpected turn, and there is no easy political solution to the Syrian issue. The security of individual countries is becoming increasingly intertwined, interlinked and interactive. No country can respond alone or stand aloof.

The Asia-Pacific Security Situation Remains Generally Stable

Asia-Pacific countries are increasingly aware that they are members of a community with shared destiny. Addressing differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation has become a preferred policy option for regional countries, making the region a stable part of the global landscape. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is forging a constructive partnership of non-alliance and non-confrontation that targets no third party, expanding security and defense cooperation and creating a new model for regional security cooperation.The China-ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting and the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) play positive roles in enhancing trust among regional countries through military exchanges and cooperation. The situation of the South China Sea is generally stable and improving as regional countries are properly managing risks and differences. Steady progress has been made in building a coordinated counter-terrorism mechanism among the militaries of the regional countries. A balanced, stable, open and inclusive Asian security architecture continues to develop.

As the world economic and strategic center continues to shift towards the Asia-Pacific, the region has become a focus of major country competition, bringing uncertainties to regional security. The US is strengthening its Asia-Pacific military alliances and reinforcing military deployment and intervention, adding complexity to regional security. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the Republic of Korea (ROK) by the US has severely undermined the regional strategic balance and the strategic security interests of regional countries.In an attempt to circumvent the post-war mechanism, Japan has adjusted its military and security policies and increased input accordingly, thus becoming more outward-looking in its military endeavors. Australia continues to strengthen its military alliance with the US and its military engagement in the Asia-Pacific, seeking a bigger role in security affairs.

Regional hotspots and disputes are yet to be resolved. Despite positive progress, the Korean Peninsula still faces uncertainty. South Asia is generally stable while conflicts between India and Pakistan flare up from time to time. Political reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan is making progress in the face of difficulties. Problems still exist among regional countries, including disputes over territorial and maritime rights and interests, as well as discord for ethnic and religious reasons. Security hotspots rise from time to time in the region.

China’s Security Risks and Challenges Should Not Be Overlooked

China continues to enjoy political stability, ethnic unity and social stability. There has been a notable increase in China’s overall national strength, global influence, and resilience to risks. China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development. Nevertheless, it also faces diverse and complex security threats and challenges.

The fight against separatists is becoming more acute. The Taiwan authorities, led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stubbornly stick to “Taiwan independence” and refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle. They have gone further down the path of separatism by stepping up efforts to sever the connection with the mainland in favor of gradual independence, pushing for de jure independence, intensifying hostility and confrontation, and borrowing the strength of foreign influence. The “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and their actions remain the gravest immediate threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the biggest barrier hindering the peaceful reunification of the country. External separatist forces for “Tibet independence” and the creation of “East Turkistan” launch frequent actions, posing threats to China’s national security and social stability.

China’s homeland security still faces threats. Land territorial disputes are yet to be completely resolved. Disputes still exist over the territorial sovereignty of some islands and reefs, as well as maritime demarcation. Countries from outside the region conduct frequent close-in reconnaissance on China by air and sea, and illegally enter China’s territorial waters and the waters and airspace near China’s islands and reefs, undermining China’s national security.

China’s overseas interests are endangered by immediate threats such as international and regional turmoil, terrorism, and piracy. Chinese diplomatic missions, enterprises and personnel around the world have been attacked on multiple occasions. Threats to outer space and cyber security loom large and the threat of non-traditional security issues posed by natural disasters and major epidemics is on the rise.

Global Military Competition Is Intensifying

Major countries around the world are readjusting their security and military strategies and military organizational structures. They are developing new types of combat forces to seize the strategic commanding heights in military competition. The US is engaging in technological and institutional innovation in pursuit of absolute military superiority. Russia is advancing its New Look military reform. Meanwhile, the UK, France, Germany, Japan and India are rebalancing and optimizing the structure of their military forces.

Driven by the new round of technological and industrial revolution, the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information, big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things is gathering pace in the military field. International military competition is undergoing historic changes. New and high-tech military technologies based on IT are developing rapidly. There is a prevailing trend to develop long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy or unmanned weaponry and equipment. War is evolving in form towards informationized warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon.

Great progress has been made in the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) with Chinese characteristics. However, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has yet to complete the task of mechanization, and is in urgent need of improving its informationization. China’s military security is confronted by risks from technology surprise and growing technological generation gap. Greater efforts have to be invested in military modernization to meet national security demands. The PLA still lags far behind the world’s leading militaries.

 

II. China’s Defensive National Defense Policy in the New Era

The socialist system of China, the strategic decision to follow the path of peaceful development, the independent foreign policy of peace, and the best of cultural traditions – considering peace and harmony as fundamentals – determine that China will pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.

Resolutely Safeguarding China’s Sovereignty, Security and Development Interests

This is the fundamental goal of China’s national defense in the new era.

China’s national defense aims:

  • to deter and resist aggression;
  • to safeguard national political security, the people’s security and social stability;
  • to oppose and contain “Taiwan independence”;
  • to crack down on proponents of separatist movements such as “Tibet independence” and the creation of “East Turkistan”;
  • to safeguard national sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security;
  • to safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests;
  • to safeguard China’s security interests in outer space, electromagnetic space and cyberspace;
  • to safeguard China’s overseas interests; and
  • to support the sustainable development of the country.

China resolutely safeguards its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The South China Sea islands and Diaoyu Islands are inalienable parts of the Chinese territory. China exercises its national sovereignty to build infrastructure and deploy necessary defensive capabilities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and to conduct patrols in the waters of Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. China is committed to resolving related disputes through negotiations with those states directly involved on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. China continues to work with regional countries to jointly maintain peace and stability. It firmly upholds freedom of navigation and overflight by all countries in accordance with international law and safeguards the security of sea lines of communication (SLOCs).

To solve the Taiwan question and achieve complete reunification of the country is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and essential to realizing national rejuvenation. China adheres to the principles of “peaceful reunification”, and “one country, two systems”, promotes peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and advances peaceful reunification of the country. Meanwhile, China resolutely opposes any attempts or actions to split the country and any foreign interference to this end. China must be and will be reunited. China has the firm resolve and the ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never allow the secession of any part of its territory by anyone, any organization or any political party by any means at any time. We make no promise to renounce the use of force, and reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is by no means targeted at our compatriots in Taiwan, but at the interference of external forces and the very small number of “Taiwan independence” separatists and their activities. The PLA will resolutely defeat anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from China and safeguard national unity at all costs.

Never Seeking Hegemony, Expansion or Spheres of Influence

This is the distinctive feature of China’s national defense in the new era.

Though a country may become strong, bellicosity will lead to its ruin. The Chinese nation has always loved peace. Since the beginning of modern times, the Chinese people have suffered from aggressions and wars, and have learned the value of peace and the pressing need for development. Therefore, China will never inflict such sufferings on any other country. Since its founding 70 years ago, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has never started any war or conflict. Since the introduction of reform and opening-up, China has been committed to promoting world peace, and has voluntarily downsized the PLA by over 4 million troops. China has grown from a poor and weak country to be the world’s second largest economy neither by receiving handouts from others nor by engaging in military expansion or colonial plunder. Instead, it has developed through its people’s hard work and its efforts to maintain peace. China has made every effort to create favorable conditions for its development through maintaining world peace, and has equally endeavored to promote world peace through its own development. China sincerely hopes that all countries will choose the path of peaceful development and jointly prevent conflicts and wars.

China is committed to developing friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. It respects the rights of all peoples to independently choose their own development path, and stands for the settlement of international disputes through equal dialogue, negotiation and consultation. China is opposed to interference in the internal affairs of others, abuse of the weak by the strong, and any attempt to impose one’s will on others. China advocates partnerships rather than alliances and does not join any military bloc. It stands against aggression and expansion, and opposes arbitrary use or threat of arms. The development of China’s national defense aims to meet its rightful security needs and contribute to the growth of the world’s peaceful forces. History proves and will continue to prove that China will never follow the beaten track of big powers in seeking hegemony. No matter how it might develop, China will never threaten any other country or seek any sphere of influence.

Implementing the Military Strategic Guideline for a New Era

This is the strategic guidance for China’s national defense in the new era.

The military strategic guideline for a new era adheres to the principles of defense, self-defense and post-strike response, and adopts active defense. It keeps to the stance that “we will not attack unless we are attacked, but we will surely counterattack if attacked”, places emphasis on both containing and winning wars, and underscores the unity of strategic defense and offense at operational and tactical levels.

Implementing the military strategic guideline for a new era, China’s armed forces strive to keep in alignment with and contribute to the general strategies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country, adopt a holistic approach to national security, strengthen the awareness of potential dangers, crises and wars, and actively adapt to the new landscape of strategic competition, the new demands of national security, and new developments in modern warfare, so as to effectively fulfill their tasks and missions in the new era.

To respond to the security threats facing the country, China’s armed forces take solid steps to strengthen military preparedness and comprehensively enhance combat capabilities for the new era. Efforts have been made to build the military strategy into a balanced and stable one for the new era, which focuses on defense and coordinates multiple domains. Based on the idea that China’s national defense is the responsibility of all Chinese people, China’s armed forces give full play to the overall power of the people’s war by innovating in its strategies, tactics and measures.

China is always committed to a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. China advocates the ultimate complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. China does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any other country and keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security. China pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense, the goal of which is to maintain national strategic security by deterring other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China.

Continuing to Strengthen the Military in the Chinese Way

This is the path forward for China’s national defense in the new era.

Building a fortified national defense and a strong military commensurate with the country’s international standing and its security and development interests is a strategic task for China’s socialist modernization. Drawing lessons from history, China strengthens its national defense and military to provide security guarantee for its peaceful development.

To strengthen China’s national defense and military in the new era, it is imperative to comprehensively implement Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the military, thoroughly deliver on Xi Jinping’s thinking on military strategy, continue to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, strengthen them through reform and technology, run them in accordance with the law, and focus on the capabilities to fight and win. Efforts will be made to advance the integrated development of mechanization and informationization, speed up the development of intelligent military, create a modernized military force structure with Chinese characteristics, improve and develop socialist military institutions with Chinese features, and constantly enhance the capabilities to fulfill the missions and tasks in the new era.

The strategic goals for the development of China’s national defense and military in the new era are:

  • to generally achieve mechanization by the year 2020 with significantly enhanced informationization and greatly improved strategic capabilities;
  • to comprehensively advance the modernization of military theory, organizational structure, military personnel, and weaponry and equipment in step with the modernization of the country and basically complete the modernization of national defense and the military by 2035; and
  • to fully transform the people’s armed forces into world-class forces by the mid-21st century.

In the Service of Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

This is the global significance of China’s national defense in the new era.

The dream of the Chinese people is closely connected with the dreams of peoples around the world. Peace, stability and prosperity in China present opportunities and benefits to the rest of the world. A strong military of China is a staunch force for world peace, stability and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China’s armed forces advocate common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, and actively participate in the reform of global security governance system. Efforts are made to deepen bilateral and multilateral security cooperation, promote a coordinated, inclusive and complementary cooperation among security mechanisms, and contribute to a security architecture featuring equality, mutual trust, fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Committed to the principle of win-win cooperation, China’s armed forces will fulfill their international responsibilities and obligations, and provide more public security goods to the international community to the best of their capacity. They actively participate in the UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs), vessel protection operations, and international efforts in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), strengthen international cooperation in arms control and non-proliferation, play a constructive role in the political settlement of hotspot issues, jointly maintain the security of international passages, and make concerted efforts to respond to global challenges such as terrorism, cyber security and major natural disasters, thus making a positive contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

 

III. Fulfilling the Missions and Tasks of China’s Armed Forces in the New Era

In the new era, to meet the strategic demands of national security and development, China’s armed forces firmly implement the missions and tasks entrusted by the CPC and the people. They endeavor to provide strategic support for consolidating the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system, safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, protecting China’s overseas interests, and promoting world peace and development.

Safeguarding National Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights and Interests

China has a land border of more than 22,000 km and a coastline of over 18,000 km, China surpasses most of countries in the number of neighboring countries, the length of land border, and the complexity of maritime security. Therefore, it is a daunting task for China to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and national unity.

China’s armed forces maintain a rigorous guard against encroachment, infiltration, sabotage or harassment so as to safeguard border security and stability. China has signed border cooperation agreements with 9 neighboring countries and set up border meeting mechanisms with 12 countries. China’s armed forces have established mechanisms for exchanges with neighboring countries at three levels: national defense ministry, Theater Commands (TCs), and border troops. They conduct regular friendly mutual visits, working meetings, joint patrols and joint exercises targeting transnational crime with their foreign counterparts. They work together with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan to implement the border disarmament treaty. They strive to promote stability and security along the border with India, and take effective measures to create favorable conditions for the peaceful resolution of the Donglang (Doklam) standoff. They enhance control along the border with Afghanistan to guard against the infiltration of terrorists. They strengthen security management along the border with Myanmar, so as to secure stability and public safety in the border areas. Since 2012, China’s border troops have completed over 3,300 joint patrols and conducted over 8,100 border meetings with their foreign counterparts. They have cleared mines from 58 square kilometers of land, closed 25 square kilometers of landmine area, and disposed of 170,000 explosive devices such as landmines along the borders with Vietnam and Myanmar.

China’s armed forces defend important waters, islands and reefs in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea, acquire full situation awareness of adjacent waters, conduct joint rights protection and law enforcement operations, properly handle maritime and air situations, and resolutely respond to security threats, infringements and provocations on the sea. Since 2012, China’s armed forces have deployed vessels on over 4,600 maritime security patrols and 72,000 rights protection and law enforcement operations, and safeguarded maritime peace, stability and order.

China’s armed forces conduct air defense, reconnaissance and early warning, monitor China’s territorial air and peripheral air space, carry out alert patrols and combat takeoff, and effectively respond to emergencies and threats to maintain order and security in the air.

Aiming at safeguarding national unity, China’s armed forces strengthen military preparedness with emphasis on the sea. By sailing ships and flying aircraft around Taiwan, the armed forces send a stern warning to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

Maintaining Combat Readiness

Maintaining combat readiness is an important assurance of effective response to security threats and fulfillment of tasks. The Central Military Commission (CMC) and the TCs’ joint operations commands perform combat readiness duties strictly, and conduct regular inspections and drills to ensure combat readiness at all times. Consistent efforts are made to improve the capabilities of joint operations command to exercise reliable and efficient command over emergency responses, and to effectively accomplish urgent, tough and dangerous tasks. In 2018, the CMC conducted surprise inspections throughout the armed forces and organized readiness drills for the units, covering 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, and parts of the East China Sea and South China Sea.

The PLA and the People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) give greater priority to combat readiness. Efforts are made to strictly act on relevant regulations and procedures, fulfill readiness duties, conduct targeted exercises and training, and maintain standardized order, with a view to staying ready to act when required and effectively carrying out readiness (combat) duties.

Carrying Out Military Training in Real Combat Conditions

Military training is the basic practice of the armed forces in peacetime. China’s armed forces put military training in an important position and take combat effectiveness as the sole and fundamental criterion. In order to enhance realistic training, they optimize the policy framework and criteria in this respect, establish and improve the relevant supervision system, conduct supervision on military training for emergencies and combat across the services, implement the responsibility system for training and readiness, and organize extensive contests and competitions to encourage officers and soldiers to step up military training.

Military training in real combat conditions across the armed forces is in full swing. Since 2012, China’s armed forces have carried out extensive mission-oriented training tailored to the specific needs of different strategic directions and exercises of all services and arms, including 80 joint exercises at and above brigade/division level.

The TCs have strengthened their leading role in joint training and organized serial joint exercises codenamed the East, the South, the West, the North and the Central, to improve joint combat capabilities.

The PLA Army (PLAA) has organized training competitions and conducted live exercises codenamed Stride and Firepower. The PLA Navy (PLAN) has extended training to the far seas and deployed the aircraft carrier task group for its first far seas combat exercise in the West Pacific. It has organized naval parades in the South China Sea and the waters and airspace near Qingdao, and conducted a series of live force-on-force exercises codenamed Mobility and systematic all-elements exercises. The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) has strengthened systematic and all-airspace training based on operational plans. It has conducted combat patrols in the South China Sea and security patrols in the East China Sea, and operated in the West Pacific. It has completed a series of regular system-vs.-system exercises such as Red Sword. The PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) has organized force-on-force evaluation-oriented training and training based on operational plans at brigade and regiment levels, strengthened training for joint strikes, and completed regular exercises such as Heavenly Sword. The PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) has made active efforts to integrate into the joint operations systems. It has carried out confrontational training in new domains and trained for emergencies and combats. The PLA Joint Logistic Support Force (PLAJLSF) has striven to align itself with the joint operations systems, and conducted exercises such as Joint Logistics Mission 2018. The PAP has developed to meet the requirements of nationwide coverage, effective connectivity, all-area response and integrated functions, and conducted a series of exercises including Guard.

Safeguarding Interests in Major Security Fields

Nuclear capability is the strategic cornerstone to safeguarding national sovereignty and security. China’s armed forces strengthen the safety management of nuclear weapons and facilities, maintain the appropriate level of readiness and enhance strategic deterrence capability to protect national strategic security and maintain international strategic stability.

Outer space is a critical domain in international strategic competition. Outer space security provides strategic assurance for national and social development. In the interest of the peaceful use of outer space, China actively participates in international space cooperation, develops relevant technologies and capabilities, advances holistic management of space-based information resources, strengthens space situation awareness, safeguards space assets, and enhances the capacity to safely enter, exit and openly use outer space.

Cyberspace is a key area for national security, economic growth and social development. Cyber security remains a global challenge and poses a severe threat to China. China’s armed forces accelerate the building of their cyberspace capabilities, develop cyber security and defense means, and build cyber defense capabilities consistent with China’s international standing and its status as a major cyber country. They reinforce national cyber border defense, and promptly detect and counter network intrusions. They safeguard information and cyber security, and resolutely maintain national cyber sovereignty, information security and social stability.

Countering Terrorism and Maintaining Stability

China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and extremism. As mandated by law, China’s armed forces participate in operations for maintaining social order, prevent and combat violence and terrorism, safeguard political security and social stability, and secure the public’s right to live and work in peace.

The PAP fulfills missions such as guarding key targets, on-site security protection, setting check points on key passages, and armed urban patrols.In accordance with the law, the PAP supports civil authorities in law enforcement operations to combat criminal gangs and terrorist activities, actively participates in the maintenance of public order, and prevents and responds to potential threats to China’s political security and social order, thus making a significant contribution to the Peaceful China initiative. Since 2012, the PAP has deployed large numbers of troops annually in security duties, counter-terrorism, emergency response, and maritime rights protection and law enforcement. It has completed around 10,000 security assignments during major events such as the G20 Summit, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the BRICS Leaders Meeting, and the SCO Qingdao Summit, and participated in the response to 671 hostage situations, incidents of severe violence, and terrorist attacks. Since 2014, the PAP has assisted the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in taking out 1,588 violent terrorist gangs and capturing 12,995 terrorists.

The PLA supports the civil authorities in maintaining social stability, provides security for major events, and responds to emergencies in accordance with the law. It is mainly tasked with missions such as counter-terrorism, NBCE detection and test, medical relief, and transport support. It disposes of potential safety hazards in the waters and protects security in the air over and around major event venues.

Protecting China’s Overseas Interests

Overseas interests are a crucial part of China’s national interests. One of the missions of China’s armed forces is to effectively protect the security and legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese people, organizations and institutions.

The PLA actively promotes international security and military cooperation and refines relevant mechanisms for protecting China’s overseas interests. To address deficiencies in overseas operations and support, it builds far seas forces, develops overseas logistical facilities, and enhances capabilities in accomplishing diversified military tasks. The PLA conducts vessel protection operations, maintains the security of strategic SLOCs, and carries out overseas evacuation and maritime rights protection operations.

In August 2017, the PLA Djibouti Support Base entered service. The base has provided equipment for the maintenance of four escort task groups, offered medical services for over 100 officers and sailors on board, conducted joint medical exercises with foreign militaries, and donated over 600 teaching aids to local schools.

When the security situation in Yemen deteriorated in March 2015, a PLAN escort task group sailed to the Gulf of Aden, berthed for the first time directly in an engagement area, and evacuated 621 Chinese citizens and 279 foreign citizens from 15 countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Poland, Germany, Canada, the UK, India and Japan.

Participating in Disaster Rescue and Relief

Participating in national development and protecting the public’s rights to work in peace are the responsibilities of China’s armed forces mandated by the Constitution of the PRC. As stipulated in the Regulations on Participation in Emergency Rescue and Disaster Relief by China’s Armed Forces, China’s armed forces are mainly tasked with rescuing, transferring and evacuating trapped populations; ensuring the security of important targets; salvaging and transporting important materials; conducting specialized operations such as restoration of transport facilities including roads, bridges and tunnels, maritime search and rescue, NBC rescue, epidemic control and medical relief; eliminating or controlling other major threats, dangerous situations and disasters; and supporting civil authorities in post-disaster reconstruction.

Since 2012, the PLA and the PAP have deployed 950,000 soldiers, 1.41 million militia, 190,000 vehicles and items of equipment, and sortied 26,000 vessels and 820 aircraft in emergency response and disaster relief. They have participated in rescue and relief efforts such as the earthquake in Ludian County of Yunnan Province, the rainstorm and flood in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the removal of the barrier lake in the Yarlung Zangbo River. They have assisted local governments to rescue and transfer over 5 million people, treated over 210,000 patients, transported over 360,000 tons of goods, and reinforced over 3,600 km of levees. In 2017, the PLA Macao Garrison sent 2,631 soldiers and over 160 vehicles to assist the government of Macao Special Administrative Region in its relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Hato.

 

IV. Reform in China’s National Defense and Armed Forces

The history of the people’s armed forces is a history of reform and innovation. In the new era, China is advancing defense and military modernization across the board and deepening reform in national defense and armed forces in all respects, with a focus on removing institutional barriers and solving structural and policy-related problems to adapt to the trends of worldwide RMA and the demands of national security. Historic strides have been made in strengthening the armed forces.

Reforming the Leadership and Command System

The reform in the leadership and command system is a significant measure in response to the call of a modern and specialized military capable of fighting and winning wars in the information age, aiming to improve the operational effectiveness and development efficiency of the military. Adhering to the general principle of “the CMC exercising overall leadership, the TCs responsible for military operations and the services focusing on developing capabilities”, the PLA endeavors to enhance the CMC’s centralized and unified leadership and its functions of strategic command and strategic management. The PLA has dismantled the long-established systems of general departments, military area commands (MAC) and the force composition with a dominating land force, and established new leadership, management and operational command systems.

Reorganizing and establishing new CMC functional organs. To optimize the functional and institutional setup of the CMC organs, the former General Staff Headquarters, General Political Department, General Logistics Department and General Armaments Department have been reshuffled into 15 organs under the centralized CMC leadership to advise, execute and serve. Thus, the chains of command, development, management and supervision are more streamlined, and the responsibilities of decision-making, planning, execution and assessment are more properly delegated.

Improving the leadership and management system for services and arms. The PLA has:

  • Established the PLAA leading organs by integrating the functions of the former general departments concerning the development of the land force;
  • Established the PLASSF by combining strategic support forces across the services and CMC organs;
  • Renamed the Second Artillery Force the PLARF; and
  • Established the PLAJLSF by integrating strategic and campaign level forces mainly for general-purpose support.

Thus, a CMC-Services-Troops leadership and management system has been put in place.

Establishing and improving the joint operations command system. By improving the joint operations command organ of the CMC and setting up those at the theater level, the PLA has established a lean and efficient joint operations command system composed of permanent and specialized commanding establishments for both peacetime and wartime operations. The former Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu MACs have been reorganized into 5 TCs: Eastern Theater Command (ETC), Southern Theater Command (STC), Western Theater Command (WTC), Northern Theater Command (NTC), and Central Theater Command (CTC). Thus, a CMC-TCs-Troops operations command system has been established.

Building and improving the law-based supervision system. The Chinese military has established the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission (CMCDIC, also the CMC Supervision Commission, CMCSC) under the direct leadership of the CMC, and dispatched disciplinary inspection teams to the CMC functional organs and all TCs. It has set up the CMC Politics and Law Commission (CMCPLC) and established regional military courts and procuratorates. It has put into place the CMC Audit Office (CMCAO), reformed the audit-based oversight system, and implemented PLA-wide resident auditing. Thus, power is exercised in a way that decision-making, execution and supervision check each other and function in coordination.

Optimizing Size, Structure and Force Composition

Reform in size, structure and force composition is a pivotal step to optimizing military organizational structure and establishing a modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics. Following the instruction to optimize structures, develop new-type forces, adjust proportions and reduce sizes, the PLA is striving to transform from a quantity-and-scale model to that of quality and efficiency, as well as from being personnel-intensive to one that is S&T-intensive.

Adjusting scale and proportion, and restructuring force composition. 300,000 personnel have been cut to keep the total active force at 2 million. Reform measures have been taken to transfer more officer positions to non-commissioned officers and civilian staff, downsize the leading organs at all levels by reducing their subordinate sections, leadership hierarchies and staff, and streamline the institutions and personnel in arts, sports, press, publication, logistical support, medical facilities, depots, and educational and research institutes. Thus, the number of personnel in the leading organs at and above regiment level has been cut by about 25%, and that of non-combat units by almost 50%. The PLA has significantly downsized the active force of the PLAA, maintained that of the PLAAF at a steady number, moderately increased that of the PLAN and PLARF, and optimized the force structures of all services and arms. The PLA has restructured the defense reserves. The deployment of combat forces has been adjusted for a strategic configuration that meets the demands of safeguarding China’s national security in the new era.

Reorganizing the troops and rebuilding new-type combat forces. The previous 18 group armies have been reorganized into 13 new ones. All major combat units of the PLA follow a group army-brigade-battalion system. Reform measures have been taken to reinforce the combat capacity of the arms, reduce the command hierarchies and combine the troops at lower levels. New types of combat forces have been enhanced to conduct special operations, all-dimensional offense and defense, amphibious operations, far seas protection and strategic projection, aiming to make the force composition complete, combined, multi-functional and flexible.

Rebalancing and reorganizing military educational and research institutions. The PLA and the PAP have restructured the previous 77 universities and colleges into 44. The National Defense University (NDU) and the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) have been reorganized. China’s armed forces have established the CMC Steering Committee on Military Scientific Research and reorganized the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS) and the research institutes of the services. Thus, the military scientific research forces have been rebalanced with the AMS as the lead, the research institutes of the services and arms as the main forces, and the research components in educational institutions and the troops as supplements.

Reforming Military Policies and Institutions

China’s armed forces take combat effectiveness as the criterion in the reform of military policies and institutions and encourage the initiative, enthusiasm and creativity of all members of the armed forces. Reform is designed to build and improve the system of socialist military policies and institutions with Chinese characteristics.

They have deepened reform in the institutions for Party building in the military to uphold the authority of the CPCCC and its centralized and unified leadership, and ensure the absolute leadership of the CPC over the military. Rules and regulations including the Decision of China’s Armed Forces on Strengthening Party Building in the Military in the New Era have been formulated to improve the Party’s institutions in the military in order to enhance its political and theoretical buildup, consolidate organizations, improve conduct, and enforce discipline.

They have innovated in policies and institutions for military force employment in a bid to effectively perform all missions and tasks in the new era. Rules and regulations have been formulated including the Regulations on Vessel Protection Operations (Trial). The institutions of military strategic guidance, regulations on combat readiness duties, and rules and regulations on joint operations have all been optimized.

They have reformulated policies and institutions to further develop combat capabilitiesLaws and regulations have been formulated and amended including the Law of the People’s Republic of China on National Defense Transportation, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Military Installations and the Regulations on Civilian Personnel in the Military. Newly-updated military training regulations and outlines have been promulgated. They have made progress in establishing the career officers system, optimizing the institutions of military welfare and support, improving the military honors system, and refining policies and institutions in training, equipment development, logistics, military research and national defense mobilization. Meanwhile, bigger legislative steps have been taken in relation to military officers and military service.

They have reformed the policies and institutions for military management to elevate the efficacy of military systems and boost quality development of the military. Rules and regulations have been formulated including thenewly-updatedRegulations on Routine Service of the People’s Liberation Army (Trial), the Regulations on Discipline of the People’s Liberation Army (Trial), theRegulations on Formation of the People’s Liberation Army (Trial), and theRegulations on Military Legislation. China’s armed forces are enhancing institutional innovation in strategic management, defense expenditure management, and the military judicial system.

They have suspended all paid services. As of June, 2018, paid services provided by leading organs, operational units, and military-affiliated public institutions at all levels had been basically suspended, involving 15 sectors such as real estate lease, agricultural and associated products, and hospitality. Over 100,000 such projects have been suspended as scheduled, accounting for 94% of the total. The armed forces have achieved the goal of withdrawing from running businesses.

Reshuffled PLA and PAP Troops

The PLAA plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests. It comprises maneuver operation, border and coastal defense, and garrison forces. Under the PLAA, there are 5 TC army commands, the Xinjiang military command, and the Tibet military command. The ETC Army has under it the 71st, 72nd, and 73rd group armies; the STC Army has the 74th and 75th group armies; the WTC Army has the 76th and 77th group armies; the NTC Army has the 78th, 79th and 80th group armies; and the CTC Army has the 81st, 82nd and 83rd group armies. In line with the strategic requirements of maneuver operations as well as multi-dimensional offense and defense, the PLAA is speeding up the transition of its tasks from regional defense to trans-theater operations, and improving the capabilities for precise, multi-dimensional, trans-theater, multi-functional and sustained operations, so as to build a new type of strong and modernized land force.

The PLAN has a very important standing in the overall configuration of China’s national security and development. It comprises submarine, surface ship, aviation, marine, and coastal defense forces. Under the PLAN, there are the ETC Navy (Donghai Fleet), the STC Navy (Nanhai Fleet), the NTC Navy (Beihai Fleet), and the PLAN Marine Corps. Under the TC navies there are naval bases, submarine flotillas, surface ship flotillas and aviation brigades. In line with the strategic requirements of near seas defense and far seas protection, the PLAN is speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas, and improving its capabilities for strategic deterrence and counterattack, maritime maneuver operations, maritime joint operations, comprehensive defense, and integrated support, so as to build a strong and modernized naval force.

The PLAAF plays a crucial role in overall national security and military strategy. It comprises aviation, airborne, ground-to-air missile, radar, ECM, and communications forces. Under the PLAAF, there are 5 TC air force commands and one airborne corps. Under the TC air forces, there are air bases, aviation brigades (divisions), ground-to-air missile brigades (divisions) and radar brigades. In line with the strategic requirements of integrating air and space capabilities as well as coordinating offensive and defensive operations, the PLAAF is accelerating the transition of its tasks from territorial air defense to both offensive and defensive operations, and improving its capabilities for strategic early warning, air strikes, air and missile defense, information countermeasures, airborne operations, strategic projection, and integrated support, so as to build a strong and modernized air force.

The PLARF plays a critical role in maintaining China’s national sovereignty and security. It comprises nuclear missile, conventional missile and support forces, and subordinate missile bases. In line with the strategic requirements of having both nuclear and conventional capabilities and deterring wars in all battlespaces, the PLARF is enhancing its credible and reliable capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, strengthening intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhancing strategic counter-balance capability, so as to build a strong and modernized rocket force.

The PLASSF is a new type of combat force for safeguarding national security and an important driver for the growth of new combat capabilities. It comprises supporting forces for battlefield environment, information, communications, information security, and new technology testing. In line with the strategic requirements of integrating existing systems and aligning civil and military endeavors, the PLASSF is seeking to achieve big development strides in key areas and accelerate the integrated development of new-type combat forces, so as to build a strong and modernized strategic support force.

The PLAJLSF, as the main force for joint logistics as well as strategic and campaign level support, is an important component of the modern military force with Chinese characteristics. It comprises the support forces for inventory and warehousing, medical services, transport, force projection, oil pipelines, engineering and construction management, reserve assets management, and procurement. Under the PLAJLSF, there are 5 joint logistic support centers located respectively in Wuxi (Jiangsu Province), Guilin (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Xining (Qinghai Province), Shenyang (Liaoning Province), and Zhengzhou (Henan Province), as well as the PLA General Hospital and the PLA Center for Disease Prevention and Control. In line with the requirements of joint support for joint operations and joint training, the PLAJLSF is being integrated into the joint operations system to enhance the capabilities of integrated joint logistics, so as to build a strong and modernized joint logistic support force.

The PAP shoulders important responsibilities in safeguarding national security, social stability and public wellbeing. China has adopted a CMC-PAP-Troops leadership and command system with the basic duties and nature of the PAP unchanged. The PAP is not in the force structure of the PLA. The PAP border defense, firefighting and security guard forces have been decommissioned. The coast guard under the leadership of State Oceanic Administration has been transferred to the PAP. PAP goldmine, forest and hydroelectricity forces have been reorganized into specialized forces of non-active service under corresponding state authorities. Meanwhile, the PAP customs guard forces have been withdrawn. In this way, the leadership, management, command and employment of the PAP has become more coherent. Following adjustment and reorganization, the PAP is mainly composed of the internal security corps, the mobile corps, and the coast guard. In line with the strategic requirements of performing multiple functions and effectively maintaining social stability, the PAP is enhancing capacity in guard duties, emergency response, counter-terrorism, maritime rights protection, administrative enforcement and disaster relief, so as to build a strong and modernized armed police force.

Promoting Defense and Military Development in All Respects

Placing theoretical and political buildup at the top of the agenda of the armed forces. China’s armed forces unswervingly take Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the military as the guidance, firmly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the CPCCC and the whole Party, firmly uphold the authority of the CPCCC and its centralized and unified leadership, and follow the CMC Chairman responsibility system, in an effort to further strengthen the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core and keep in alignment. In accordance with the Decision on Issues Relating to the Military Political Work in the New Era issued in December 2014, China’s armed forces have improved their political work and embarked on a new journey of development. In order to fully strengthen the Party leadership and Party building of the military in the new era, a CMC meeting on party building was held in August, 2018. Great efforts are being made to cultivate revolutionary officers and soldiers of the new era with faith, ability, courage and integrity, and build troops with iron-like faith, conviction, discipline and commitment.

Promoting innovation in defense S&T and military theory. China’s armed forces are accelerating the implementation of the strategy to develop the military through S&T in a bid to maintain and enhance the strength of the areas where they lead, and intensify innovation in emerging areas. They have made great progress in independent innovation in some strategic, cutting-edge and disruptive technologies, and succeeded in developing strategic hi-tech products such as the Tianhe-2 supercomputer. Focusing on war and fighting wars, China’s armed forces have innovated in military doctrines and delivered outcomes in military strategy, joint operations and informationization, which have provided a theoretical support to defense and military development.

Establishing a modernized weaponry and equipment system. China’s armed forces are optimizing the overall composition of weaponry and equipment, coordinating the efforts of all services and arms in this regard, promoting the balanced development of main battle equipment, information systems, and support equipment, with a view to comprehensively raising standardization, serial development and interoperability. Old equipment is being phased out, and a system created that mainly comprises new and high-tech weaponry and equipment. Type 15 tanks, type 052D destroyers, J-20 fighters, and DF-26 intermediate and long-range ballistic missiles have been commissioned.

Building a combat-oriented modern logistics system. China’s armed forces are putting in place a support mechanism combining centralized and decentralized support, as well as general and special-purpose supplies, with PLAJLSF as the backbone force and service logistics units as supplements. They are also building a joint, lean and efficient logistic support system with the strategic and campaign level forces as the main force, the affiliated forces as the support, and the civil sectors as supplements. Logistics units have been incorporated into TC-level joint training, trans-theater training by services and arms, and joint exercises and training with foreign militaries to strengthen the integrated training of logistical and operational forces. China’s armed forces have acquired a rapid, multi-dimensional and precise support capability.

Strengthening strategic management. Adopting demand-oriented planning and planning-led resource allocation, China’s armed forces have established and improved the strategic management procedures of demand-planning-budgeting-execution-evaluation. They have completed a system of strategic plans and programs composed of the development strategies of the military as a whole, and its key areas, branches, and the PAP. They have regulated military strategic planning, promulgated and implemented the Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for Military Development, and optimized the mechanisms for evaluation, supervision and control.

Governing the military with strict discipline and in accordance with the law. China’s armed forces are building a military legal system with Chinese characteristics and pressing ahead with a fundamental transformation in how the military is run. They are strengthening oversight and supervision in military training and combat readiness to uproot peacetime ills. They are promoting legal awareness through public communication and education campaigns, establishing and improving the support mechanism of legal consultation and service, and advancing law-based management in the military. China’s armed forces are striving to manage the troops more strictly in all respects. They have fully implemented military rules and regulations, restored and improved the traditional mechanism of using bugles to communicate and command, carried out safety inspections to identify and tackle potential problems, stepped up garrison military policing, strengthened the management of military vehicles by targeted measures, and set up a mechanism of regular notification on garrison military policing. These efforts have contributed to maintaining the positive image of the armed forces.

Improving Party conduct, upholding integrity and continuing the fight against corruption. China’s armed forces are tightening political discipline and rules, investigating and dealing strictly with grave violations of CPC discipline and state laws as in the cases of Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Fang Fenghui, and Zhang Yang. China’s armed forces punish corruption in strict accordance with CPC discipline and relevant laws, and rectify any malpractice in key construction projects and the procurement of equipment and material. Points-of-contact for discipline supervision have been designated at the small-unit level to investigate and combat “micro corruption” and misconduct in all its forms among service members. China’s armed forces have intensified political inspection by completing disciplinary inspections and re-inspections over all CMC functional organs, the TCs, services, AMS, NDU, NUDT and the PAP. They have worked to implement full-spectrum audit, intensify the audit of major fields, projects and funds, and perform strict audits over the economic liabilities of officers in positions of leadership. Active efforts have been made to monitor the cost-effectiveness of applied funds, conduct whole-process audit, and combine civil and military efforts in auditing. Since 2012, they have carried out audits over 39,000 units and 13,000 PLA and PAP officers in positions of leadership at and above regiment level. As a result, notable achievements have been made in the fight against corruption in China’s armed forces, and a healthy political atmosphere of integrity has formed.

Modernizing national defense mobilization. China has refined the system of national defense mobilization to enhance the development of its defense reserves. China is streamlining the number of primary militia nationwide, driving deeper reform of militia and reserve forces in their size, structure and composition, promoting integrated development and employment of the reserve and active forces, and extending the function of national defense mobilization from mainly supporting the land force to supporting all branches at a faster pace.

In the process of deepening the reform of the CPC and governmental institutions, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of the PRC has been set up. Through a series of preferential measures, the veteran support system is progressing at provincial, prefectural, county, town and township (sub-district), and village (community) levels. Substantial steps have been taken to enhance the government’s efforts to support the military and their families, and to strengthen the military’s support to the government and the people. China’s armed forces play an active role in poverty alleviation. The relationships between the military and the government and between the military and the people are getting even closer. There is a growing consensus across communities to respect and give preferential treatment to all service members.

 

V. Reasonable and Appropriate Defense Expenditure

China attends to both development and security. It is making an integrated effort to build a prosperous country and a strong military, and striving for the coordinated development of national defense and the economy. Following the principle of building the armed forces through diligence and thrift, China takes into consideration the development of the economy and the demands of national defense, decides on the appropriate scale and composition of defense expenditure, and manages and applies these funds in accordance with law.

Since reform and opening-up, China has increased its defense expenditure from a level of sustainability to moderate growth. On the whole, defense expenditure has grown in tandem with the growth of the national economy and government expenditure. Defense expenditure as a percentage of GDP has fallen from a peak of 5.43% in 1979 to 1.26% in 2017. It has remained below 2% for the past three decades. Defense expenditure as a percentage of government expenditure was 17.37% in 1979 and 5.14% in 2017, a drop of more than 12 percentage points. The figures are on a clear downward trend.

China’s Defense Expenditure Since 2012

In the new era, to keep pace with the country’s modernization, China is focusing on building a fortified national defense and a strong military commensurate with the country’s international standing, and its national security and development interests. China is striving to narrow the gap between its military and the world’s leading militaries, and make up the deficiencies in the military’s capabilities in modern warfare. Defense expenditure is growing steadily and the breakdown of spending is being continuously optimized.

In terms of usage, China’s defense expenditure is assigned to three sectors – personnel, training and sustainment, and equipment. Personnel expenses mainly cover the salaries, allowances, food, bedding, clothing, insurance, subsidies and pensions for officers, non-ranking officers, soldiers and contracted civilians, as well as retirees supported from the defense budget. Training and sustainment expenses mainly cover training of the troops, institutional education, construction and maintenance of installations and facilities, and other expenditure on routine consumables. Equipment expenses mainly cover R&D, testing, procurement, repairs, maintenance, transport and the storage of weaponry and equipment. In terms of scope, defense expenditure covers all active forces, reserve forces and militia.

Since 2012, the increase in defense expenditure has been primarily spent for the following purposes:

  1. Adapting to national economic and social development, improving the wellbeing of service personnel, ensuring regular increases in military salaries, and bettering the working, training and living conditions of the troops;
  2. Increasing input in weaponry and equipment development, phasing out the outdated, upgrading the old, and developing and procuring the new, such as aircraft carriers, fighters, missiles and main battle tanks, to steadily modernize weaponry and equipment;
  3. Deepening national defense and military reform, supporting major reforms in military leadership and command systems, force structure and composition, and policies and institutions;
  4. Supporting training in real combat conditions, enhancing strategic-level training, joint training at TCs’ level and training of services and arms, and improving the conditions for simulated, networked and force-on-force training; and
  5. Supporting diverse military tasks including the UNPKOs, vessel protection operations, humanitarian assistance operations and disaster relief efforts.

From 2012 to 2017, China’s defense expenditure increased from RMB669.192 billion to RMB1,043.237 billion. China’s GDP and government expenditure grew at average rates of 9.04% and 10.43% respectively, calculated on the price of the indicated years, while its defense expenditure increased by an average of 9.42%. Defense expenditure accounted for 1.28% of GDP and 5.26% of government expenditure on average. The percentage of China’s defense expenditure in GDP remained stable and grew in coordination with the increase of government expenditure.

China applies strict mechanisms of fiscal allocation and budget management on its defense expenditure. It pursues a level of defense spending that is demand-oriented, planning-led and consistent with its capacity. It endeavors to strengthen unified management, coordinate existing and incremental expenditure, gradually practice cost-effectiveness management, and steadily press ahead with reform that is centered on efficacy and efficiency. To improve and strengthen budget management, China’s armed forces are extending reform of the centralized collection and payment of military funds, accelerating standardization in relation to defense expenditure, and improving the management of assets and funds.

Comparison of Defense Expenditure in the International Context

Among countries ranking high in defense expenditure in 2017, China’s share of defense expenditure in GDP and government expenditure, as well as per capita and per-serviceperson defense spending, are all at a relatively low level.

China has become the world’s second largest economy. The fact that China’s defense expenditure ranks second in the world is determined by the demands of its national defense, the size of its economy, and the defensive nature of its national defense policy. In terms of total spending, China’s defense expenditure in 2017 was less than a quarter of that of the US.

As a percentage of GDP, from 2012 to 2017, China’s average defense expenditure was about 1.3%. Comparative figures were: the US about 3.5%, Russia 4.4%, India 2.5%, the UK 2.0%, France 2.3%, Japan 1.0%, and Germany 1.2%. China ranks 6th among these countries in terms of defense expenditure as a percentage of GDP on average and is the lowest among the permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

As a ratio of spending to government expenditure, from 2012 to 2017, China’s average defense expenditure was 5.3%. Comparative figures were: the US about 9.8%, Russia 12.4%, India 9.1%, the UK 4.8%, France 4.0%, Japan 2.5%, and Germany 2.8%. China ranks 4th among these countries in terms of defense expenditure as a percentage of government expenditure on average.

China’s per capita defense expenditure in 2017 was RMB750 – 5% of the US, 25% of Russia, 231% of India, 13% of the UK, 16% of France, 29% of Japan, and 20% of Germany. China’s per-serviceperson defense expenditure was RMB521,600 – 15% of the US, 119% of Russia, 166% of India, 27% of the UK, 38% of France, 35% of Japan, and 30% of Germany. China’s defense expenditure ranks 7th and 6th in per capita and per-serviceperson terms respectively among these countries.

China reports and releases its defense expenditure through various mechanisms. Since 1978, the Chinese government has submitted annual budget reports to the National People’s Congress and released the total amount of defense budget. In 1995, the Chinese government issued a white paper, China: Arms Control and Disarmament, releasing data concerning its defense expenditure to the world. Since 2007, China has joined the UN Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures and has submitted annually to the UN the basic data on its defense expenditure for the latest fiscal year, reporting total spending as well as personnel expenses, training and sustainment expenses, and equipment expenses for the active force, reserve force and the militia respectively, along with an explanation of the application of China’s defense expenditure and its ratio to GDP.

All in all, China’s defense expenditure is open and transparent, and its spending is reasonable and appropriate. Compared to other major countries, the ratios of China’s defense expenditure to GDP and to government expenditure, as well as the per capita defense expenditure of the country, remain at a relatively low level.

As the only major country yet to be completely reunified, and one of the countries with the most complex peripheral security environment, China faces serious challenges in safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and maritime rights and interests. China is moving closer to the center of the world stage, and the international community expects more international public security goods from the Chinese military. In addition, China’s armed forces are moving towards informationization and shouldering arduous tasks in following the trends of worldwide RMA and speeding up RMA with Chinese characteristics. There is still a wide gap between China’s defense expenditure and the requirements for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, for fulfilling China’s international responsibilities and obligations as a major country, and for China’s development. In step with national economic development, defense expenditure of China will maintain a moderate and steady growth.

 

VI. Actively Contributing to Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

Building a community with a shared future for mankind conforms to the trends of the times for peaceful development, and reflects the common aspirations of all peoples throughout the world. China’s armed forces have responded faithfully to the call for a community with a shared future for mankind. They are actively fulfilling the international obligations of the armed forces of a major country, comprehensively promoting international military cooperation for the new era, and striving for a better world of lasting peace and common security.

Resolutely Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter

As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UNSC, China unswervingly endorses the central role of the UN in international affairs, and resolutely upholds international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It firmly maintains multilateralism, advances democracy in international relations, participates extensively in global security governance, actively engages in arms control and disarmament, and endeavors to offer Chinese proposals for resolving major issues and formulating important rules.

China has played a constructive role in the political settlement of regional hotspots such as the Korean Peninsula issue, the Iranian nuclear issue and Syrian issue. China opposes hegemony, unilateralism and double standards, promotes dialogues and consultations, and fully and earnestly implements UNSC resolutions. China has actively participated in multilateral dialogues and negotiations on cyberspace and outer space, and pushed for the formulation of widely accepted international rules that are fair and equitable.

China actively participates in international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. China objects to arms race and strives to protect global strategic balance and stability. To this end, China has signed or acceded to dozens of relevant multilateral treaties including the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In 2015 China announced the establishment of the USD1 billion China-UN Peace and Development Fund in the following decade, which was officially put into operation in 2016.

Building a New-Model Security Partnership Featuring Equality, Mutual Trust and Win-Win Cooperation

China actively develops constructive relationships with foreign militaries. A new configuration of foreign military relations which is all-dimensional, wide-ranging and multi-tiered is taking shape. China has engaged in military exchanges with more than 150 countries and set up 130 offices of military attachés and military representatives at Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, while 116 countries have established military attaché’s offices in China. In addition, China has put in place 54 defense consultation and dialogue mechanisms with 41 countries and international organizations. Since 2012, high level Chinese military delegations have visited over 60 countries, and defense ministers and commanders-in-chief from over 100 countries have visited China.

The military relationship between China and Russia continues to develop at a high level, enriching the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and playing a significant role in maintaining global strategic stability. The Chinese and Russian militaries have continued the sound development of exchange mechanisms at all levels, expanded cooperation in high-level exchanges, military training, equipment, technology and counter-terrorism, and realized positive interaction and coordination on international and multilateral occasions. Since 2012, Chinese and Russian militaries have held 7 rounds of strategic consultations. From August to September 2018, at the invitation of the Russian side, the PLA participated in Russia’s Vostok strategic exercise for the first time.

China actively and properly handles its military relationship with the US in accordance with the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. It strives to make the military-to-military relationship a stabilizer for the relations between the two countries and hence contribute to the China-US relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability. In 2014, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the US Department of Defense signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Notification of Major Military Activities and Confidence-Building Measures Mechanism and the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Rules of Behavior for Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters. In 2015, the two countries agreed on the annexes on the military crisis notification mechanism and the rules of behavior for safety in air-to-air encounters. In 2017, the two countries established a diplomatic and security dialogue and joint staff dialogue mechanism with a view to actively strengthening strategic communication and managing risks and differences. The two militaries carry out institutionalized exchanges between the defense authorities, armies, navies and air forces, as well as practical cooperation in HADR, counter-piracy, and exchanges between academic institutions. China resolutely opposes the wrong practices and provocative activities of the US side regarding arms sales to Taiwan, sanctions on the CMC Equipment Development Department and its leadership, illegal entry into China’s territorial waters and maritime and air spaces near relevant islands and reefs, and wide-range and frequent close-in reconnaissance. However, in China-US relations, the military-to-military relationship remains the generally stable one.

With a commitment to building a community with a shared future in its neighborhood, China endeavors to deepen military partnership with its neighbors. The PLA keeps close contacts with the military leaderships of the neighboring countries. Given more than 40 reciprocal military visits at and above service commander level every year, high-level military exchanges have covered almost all of China’s neighbors and contributed to growing strategic mutual trust. China has set up defense and security consultations as well as working meeting mechanisms with 17 neighboring countries to keep exchange channels open. In recent years, China has regularly held serial joint exercises and training on counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, search and rescue, and tactical skills with its neighboring countries, and carried out extensive exchanges and practical cooperation on border and coastal defense, academic institutions, think tanks, education, training, medical science, medical service, and equipment and technology. In addition, defense cooperation with ASEAN countries is moving forward. The military relationships between China and its neighboring countries are generally stable.

China is actively developing its military relations with European countries. Exchanges and cooperation in all areas are making sound progress. Targeting a China-Europe partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, China conducts security policy dialogues, joint counter-piracy exercises and personnel training with the EU. In 2016, China held a desktop exercise on non-combatant evacuation with the UK and a joint military medical exercise with Germany. In 2018, China and the EU held the third China-EU high-level seminar on security policy.

China is strengthening military exchanges with developing countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific by carrying out personnel training, conducting exchanges between mid-and-junior level officers, and providing assistance in military development and defense capabilities. In Beijing in 2018 China hosted the China-Africa Defense and Security Forum, the China and Latin-America High-level
Defense Forum, and the Forum for Senior Defense Officials from Caribbean and South Pacific Countries.

The PLA adheres to the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation in carrying out pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with foreign militaries. Since 2012, China has held over 100 joint exercises and training with more than 30 countries. These engagements have covered traditional and non-traditional security fields, in locations extending from China’s periphery to the far seas, and the participating forces have expanded from land forces to multiple branches including the army, navy and air force. Cooperation and exchanges in personnel training have intensified. Since 2012, the PLA has sent over 1,700 military personnel to study in more than 50 countries. Over 20 Chinese military educational institutions have established and maintained inter-collegiate exchanges with their counterparts from more than 40 countries. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 foreign military personnel from over 130 countries have studied in Chinese military universities and colleges.

China’s armed forces work to improve mechanisms for information release in order to comprehensively and objectively explain China’s national defense and military development to domestic and international audiences. In April 2011, China’s MND started to convene monthly press conferences to release important information on national defense and the military. Since 2012, multiple thematic press conferences have been held to brief on important events such as national defense and military reform and downsizing the PLA. The MND has organized multiple visits to and interviews with PLA units and academic institutions for nearly 100 domestic and foreign media. Since they were launched in May 2015, the official Weibo and WeChat accounts of the MND Information Office have attracted over 6 million followers.

Building a Regional Security Cooperation Architecture

In June 2001, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan co-founded the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The SCO has now grown into a new type of comprehensive regional cooperation organization covering the largest area and population in the world. The Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development has come into being. With its commitment to building an SCO community with a shared future and developing a new model of international relations, the organization has made a new contribution to regional peace and development. In June 2017, the SCO expanded for the first time and admitted India and Pakistan as member states. In April 2018, China hosted the first SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting since the organization expanded its membership. The member states continue to strengthen defense and security exchanges and cooperation, including Peace Mission exercises, and Fanfare for Peace military tattoos, to further promote good-neighborliness and strategic mutual trust, increase military cultural exchanges, and enhance unity and friendship.

China actively supports the institutional development of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), advocates common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia, and plays an important role in building an Asian security cooperation architecture.

In the principles of openness, inclusiveness and pragmatic cooperation, China actively participates in multilateral dialogues and cooperation mechanisms including the ADMM-Plus, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Shangri-La Dialogue, Jakarta International Defense Dialogue and Western Pacific Naval Symposium, regularly holds China-ASEAN defense ministers’ informal meetings, and proposes and constructively promotes initiatives to strengthen regional defense cooperation. The China-ASEAN Maritime Exercise-2018, the first between Chinese and ASEAN militaries, was held in October 2018 and demonstrated the confidence and determination of the countries in maintaining regional peace and stability.

China has initiated the Xiangshan Forum, a platform of exchange based in Beijing, in the spirit of equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning. In 2014, the Xiangshan Forum was upgraded to a track-1.5 platform of international security and defense dialogue. In October 2018, the Xiangshan Forum was renamed the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. More than 500 participants from 67 countries and 7 international organizations attended the forum and exchanged new ideas and approaches for addressing regional security threats and challenges. Their discussions have played an active role in promoting security dialogue and mutual trust in the Asia-Pacific region.

Properly Coping with Disputes over Territory and Maritime Demarcation

Upholding amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy, China is committed to building an amicable relationship and partnership with its neighbors, and peaceful resolution of disputes over territory and maritime demarcation through negotiation and consultation. China has settled its border issues with 12 of its 14 land neighbors and signed treaties on good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with 8 countries on its periphery.

China holds it a priority to manage differences and enhance mutual trust in maintaining the stability of its neighborhood. China has proposed a China-ASEAN defense ministers’ hotline and established direct defense telephone links with Vietnam and the ROK. It has kept contact through telephone or fax, and conducted border meetings and joint patrols, with the militaries of the countries on its land borders on regular or irregular basis. Since 2014, five high-level border meetings between China and Vietnam have been held. To implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and India, the two militaries have exchanged high-level visits and pushed for a hotline for border defense cooperation and mechanisms for border management and border defense exchanges. Since the second half of 2016, China and the Philippines have increased dialogue on maritime security, bringing the two sides back on track in addressing the South China Sea issue through friendly consultation. In May 2018, the defense authorities of China and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime and air liaison and put it into practice in June.

China and the ASEAN countries have comprehensively and effectively implemented the DOC, and actively advanced the consultations on the COC. They are committed to extending practical maritime security cooperation, developing regional security mechanisms and building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Actively Providing International Public Security Goods

China actively supports the UNPKOs. It is a major contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UNSC. As of December 2018, China has participated in 24 UN peacekeeping missions and has contributed more than 39,000 peacekeepers. 13 Chinese military personnel have sacrificed their lives in the UNPKOs. In the missions, China’s peacekeepers have built and repaired over 13,000 kilometers of roads, cleared and disposed of 10,342 mines and various items of unexploded ordnance, transported more than 1.35 million tons of materials over a total distance of more than 13 million kilometers, treated over 170,000 patients, and fulfilled over 300 armed escorts and long or short-distance patrols.

In September 2015, China joined the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) and built a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. In September 2017, China completed the registration of PCRS Level 1. In October 2018, 13 Chinese PCRS Level 1 units scored high in the UN assessment and were elevated to PCRS Level 2. Five among these units were elevated from Level 2 to Level 3 in February 2019. China has made active efforts to train international peacekeepers and trained over 1,500 individuals from dozens of countries. In December 2018, 2,506 peacekeepers from the PLA served in 7 UN missions and in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

In line with relevant UNSC resolutions, since December 2008, the Chinese government has dispatched naval ships to carry out regular vessel protection operations in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somalia. Chinese PLAN task groups cooperate with multiple naval forces in the area to safeguard international SLOCs. In the past decade, over 100 vessels and 26,000 officers and sailors have been regularly deployed in 31 convoys, each consisting of three to four ships, in vessel protection operations. They have provided security protection for over 6,600 Chinese and foreign ships, and rescued, protected or assisted over 70 ships in distress.

China’s armed forces take an active part in the international efforts for HADR. Military professionals are dispatched to conduct disaster relief operations in affected countries, provide relief materials and medical aid, and strengthen international exchanges in this respect. Since 2012, China’s armed forces have participated in the search for the missing Malaysian Airliner MH370, and in the relief operations for Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the water scarcity in Maldives, the earthquake in Nepal, and the flood caused by a dam collapse in Laos. Since it entered service a decade ago, the PLAN’s hospital ship Ark Peace has fulfilled 7 voyages coded as Mission Harmony and visited 43 countries. During these visits, it provided medical services to the local communities, organized medical exchanges, and helped over 230,000 people.

China is active in international and regional counter-terrorism cooperation. It has strengthened such cooperation within the framework of the SCO. China hosts and participates in joint counter-terrorism exercises, cracks down on illegal trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives, cooperates with SCO members to identify and cut off channels for terrorist infiltration, and promotes international counter-terrorism intelligence exchange and information sharing. It hosts the Great Wall International Forum on Counter-Terrorism, and actively participates in multilateral counter-terrorism mechanisms such as the APEC Counter-Terrorism Working Group and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. Bilateral counter-terrorism consultations have been held with certain countries. China initiated the establishment of the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM), a counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination mechanism by the militaries of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The QCCM has convened two military leaders’ meetings and conducted counter-terrorism exchange and cooperation, actively safeguarding regional security.

 

Closing Remarks

Peace is an aspiration for all peoples, and development is an eternal theme of humanity. Faced with global security challenges that are becoming ever more intricate and choices that have to be made at a crossroads of human development, China firmly believes that hegemony and expansion are doomed to failure, and security and prosperity shall be shared. China will remain committed to peaceful development and work with people of all countries to safeguard world peace and promote common development.

Guided by Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the military, China’s national defense in the new era will stride forward along its own path to build a stronger military and endeavor to achieve the great goal of developing world-class forces in an all-round way. China’s armed forces have the determination, confidence and capability to prevail over all threats and challenges. They stand ready to provide strong strategic support for the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, and to make new and greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

 

Appendices

Table 1 CMC Functional Organs

CMC Functional Organs Duties
General Office Mainly responsible for comprehensive coordination, consultation on decision-making, military legal affairs, information service, supervision and inspection
Joint Staff Department Mainly responsible for combat planning, command and control, combat command support, studying and formulating military strategy and requirements, combat capability assessment, organizing and guiding joint training, construction for combat readiness, and day-to-day combat readiness duties
Political Work Department Mainly responsible for Party building in the military, organization work, political education, and military human resources management
Logistic Support
Department
Mainly responsible for the planning, policy making, research, standardization, inspection and supervision of logistic support
Equipment Development Department Mainly responsible for planning, R&D, testing, authentication, procurement management, and information system buildup in equipment development
Training and Administration Department Mainly responsible for organizing and guiding military training, training supervision, troops administration, and management of educational institutions
National Defense
Mobilization Department
Mainly responsible for organizing and guiding national defense mobilization and defense reserves development, and commanding and managing provincial military commands
Discipline Inspection Commission Mainly responsible for the Party’s discipline supervision and inspection in the military
Politics and Law
Commission
Mainly responsible for organizing and guiding political and legal work as well as security protection
Science and Technology Commission Mainly responsible for the strategic management of national defense S&T, organizing and guiding cutting-edge technological innovation, and promoting the CMI of S&T
Office for Strategic
Planning
Mainly responsible for strategic planning of national defense and the military, organizing the formulation of development plans, and coordinating resource allocation
Office for Reform and Organizational Structure Mainly responsible for planning and coordinating national defense and military reform, guiding and promoting the implementation of the reforms in major areas, and the organizational structure management of the armed forces
Office for International Military Cooperation Mainly responsible for international military exchanges and cooperation, and managing and coordinating the work of the armed forces related to foreign affairs
Audit Office Mainly responsible for audit, supervision as well as organizing and guiding the audit of the armed forces
Agency for Offices
Administration
Mainly responsible for serving and supporting the CMC’s functional organs

 

 

Table 2 Breakdown of China’s Defense Expenditure (2010-2017)

(in RMB billion yuan)

Item

Year

Personnel Expense Training and Sustainment Expense Equipment Expense Total
Amount Percentage

(%)

Amount Percentage

(%)

Amount Percentage

(%)

2010 185.931 34.9 170.047 31.9 177.359 33.2 533.337
2011 206.506 34.3 189.943 31.5 206.342 34.2 602.791
2012 195.572 29.2 232.994 34.8 240.626 36.0 669.192
2013 200.231 27.0 269.971 36.4 270.860 36.6 741.062
2014 237.234 28.6 267.982 32.3 323.738 39.1 828.954
2015 281.863 31.0 261.538 28.8 365.383 40.2 908.784
2016 306.001 31.3 266.994 27.4 403.589 41.3 976.584
2017 321.052 30.8 293.350 28.1 428.835 41.1 1043.237
Sources: Data on China’s defense expenditure submitted to the UN by the Chinese government

 

 

 

Table 3 China’s Defense Expenditure Since 2012

Year GDP

(RMB billion)

Total Defense Expenditure

(RMB billion)

CPI

(Previous Year = 100)

Growth Rate of Government Expenditure (%) Growth Rate of Defense Expenditure (%) Defense Expenditure to GDP (%) Defense Expenditure to Government

Expenditure (%)

Real Defense Expenditure Growth Rate

(Inflation-adjusted) (%)

2012 54036.74 669.192 102.6 15.29 11.02 1.24 5.31 8.42
2013 59524.44 741.062 102.6 11.32 10.74 1.24 5.29 8.14
2014 64397.4 828.954 102.0 8.25 11.86 1.29 5.46 9.86
2015 68905.21 908.784 101.4 15.87 9.63 1.32 5.17 8.23
2016 74358.55 976.584 102.0 6.75 7.46 1.31 5.20 5.46
2017 82712.17 1043.237 101.6 8.17 6.83 1.26 5.14 5.23
Sources: Statistical yearbooks and government documents released by the Chinese government and data on China’s defense expenditure submitted to the UN by the Chinese government

 

 

 

Table 4 Major Multilateral Treaties on Arms Control, Disarmament and
Non-Proliferation Joined by China

Category Treaties Time
Nuclear Protocol to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia Signed in May 2014, approved in Apr. 2015 by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
Protocol Additional to the Agreement Between the People’s Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in China Signed in Dec. 1998, entered into force in Mar. 2002
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Signed in Sep. 1996
Protocol I and II to the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Signed in Apr. 1996, instrument of ratification deposited in Oct. 1997
Convention on Nuclear Safety Signed in Sep. 1994, ratified in Apr. 1996
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Acceded in Mar. 1992
Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof Acceded in Feb. 1991
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material Acceded in Feb. 1989
Agreement Between the People’s Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in China Signed in Sep. 1988, entered into force in Sep. 1989
Additional Protocol II and III to the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty Signed in Feb. 1987, instrument of ratification deposited in Oct. 1988
Additional Protocol II to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean Signed in Aug. 1973, instrument of ratification deposited in Jun. 1974
Chemical Convention on the Prohibition of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction Signed in Jan. 1993, instrument of ratification deposited in Apr. 1997
Biological Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction Acceded in Nov. 1984
Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare Statement issued to acknowledge the Protocol in Jul. 1952
Conventional Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) of Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or Have Indiscriminate Effects Instrument of ratification deposited in Jun. 2010
Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime Signed in Dec. 2002
Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons Annexed to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Protocol IV) Instrument of ratification deposited in Nov. 1998
Amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices Annexed to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Amended Protocol II) Instrument of ratification deposited in Nov. 1998
Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and Protocols I-III Signed in Sep. 1981, instrument of ratification deposited in Apr. 1982; amendment of Article 1 of the Convention ratified in Jun. 2003, instrument of ratification deposited in Aug. 2003
Others Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques Acceded in Jun. 2005
Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space Acceded in Dec. 1988
Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts, and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space Acceded in Dec. 1988
Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects Acceded in Dec. 1988
Treaty on Principles Concerning the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space Including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies Acceded in Dec. 1983
The Antarctic Treaty Acceded in Jun. 1983

 

 

Table 5 Major Multilateral Counter-Terrorism Treaties Signed by China

Treaty Date of Signature Effective Date Participation or Statement by China
Agreement on Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism by the Ministry of Defense/ Armed Forces/ Military of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan Aug. 2017 Aug. 2017 Signed in Aug. 2017, effective in China
Convention of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Against Terrorism Jun. 2009 Jan. 2012 Signed in Jun. 2009, ratified in Dec. 2014
Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Arms, Ammunition and Explosives between the Governments of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Aug. 2008 May 2010 Approved by the State Council in May 2012, instrument of approval deposited in Jul. 2012, effective in China
Agreement on the Procedure for Organizing and Conducting Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise within Territories of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Aug. 2008 Nov. 2013 Approved in Jun. 2013, effective in China since Nov. 2013
Cooperation Agreement in the Sphere of Identifying and Cutting off the Channels Used by the Individuals Involved in Terrorist, Separatist and Extremist Activities to Enter the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States Jun. 2006 Nov. 2008 Approved by the State Council in May 2012, instrument of approval deposited in Jul. 2012, effective in China

 

 

Table 6 Major Joint Exercises and Training by the PLA and
the PAP with Foreign Counterparts Since 2012

No. States/
Organizations
Codename Location and Time
1 Belarus United Shield-2017 Joint Anti-Terrorism Training Held in Minsk, Belarus in Jul. 2017
2 Germany Joint Rescue-2016 Joint Medical Exercise Held in Chongqing, China in 2016
3 India Hand in Hand Anti-Terrorism Joint Training Held in Sichuan, China in Nov. 2013; in Maharashtra, India in Nov. 2014; in Yunnan, China in Oct. 2015; in Maharashtra, India in Nov. 2016; in Sichuan, China in Dec. 2018
4 Malaysia Peace and Friendship Joint Military Exercises Tabletop exercise held in Malaysia in Dec. 2014; in Malaysia in Sept. 2015; in Malaysia in Nov. 2016
5 Pakistan Friendship Joint
Anti-Terrorism Training
Held in Ningxia, China in Dec. 2015; at National Counter Terrorism Center Pabbi, Pakistan in Oct. 2016
Eagle/Shaheen Joint Training A total of 6 training sessions held in China and Pakistan from 2013 to 2018
6 Russia Joint Sea Exercises Held in the Yellow Sea waters near Qingdao in Apr. 2012; in Peter the Great Gulf in Jul. 2013; in the north maritime and air space of the East China Sea to the east of Yangtze River Estuary in May 2014; in the east of the maritime and air space of the Mediterranean in May 2015; in Peter the Great Gulf, off the coast of Vladivostok, and the maritime and air space of Sea of Japan in Aug. 2015; in Zhanjiang and the east of the maritime and air space of Zhanjiang in Sep. 2016; in the Baltiysk, St. Petersburg and southeast Baltic Sea in Jul. 2017; in Vladivostok and the designated area between Peter the Great Gulf and the south Okhotsk Sea in Sep. 2017
Aerospace Security
Computer-Enabled
Anti-Missile Command-and-Staff Exercises
Held in Russia in May 2016, and in China in Dec. 2017
7 Saudi Arabia Explore-2016 Joint
Anti-Terrorism Training of Special Forces
Held in China in Oct. 2016
8 Sri Lanka Silk Road Cooperation-2015 Joint Counter Terrorism Training for Special
Operation Units
Held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in Jun. 2015
9 Tajikistan Cooperation-2016 Joint
Anti-Terrorism Exercise
Held in Badakhshan, Tajikistan in Oct. 2016
10 Thailand Falcon Strike Joint Training Held in Thailand in Nov. 2015; in Thailand in Aug. 2017; in Thailand in Sep. 2018
11 UK Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation Desktop Exercises Held in Nanjing in 2016; in London in 2017
12 US The US-China Disaster
Management Exchange
Held in Beijing, Kunming and Chengdu in 2012; in Hawaii in 2013; in Guangzhou and Haikou in 2015; in Seattle in 2015; in Kunming in 2016; in Portland in 2017; in Nanjing in 2018
13 Vietnam China-Vietnam Joint Naval Patrols in the Beibu Gulf Held in the shared fishing zone in the Beibu Gulf for 13 times from 2012 to 2018
14 Malaysia,
Thailand
Peace and Friendship 2018 Joint Military Exercise Held in Malaysia in Oct. 2018 by militaries of China, Malaysia and Thailand
15 ASEAN Maritime Exercise-2018 Held in Zhanjiang and the maritime and air space to the east in Oct. 2018
16 EU Cooperation-2018.10.EU Joint Medical Exercise Held in the west Gulf of Aden in Oct. 2018
17 SCO Peace Mission Joint
Counter-Terrorism Exercises
Held in Khujand, Tajikistan in Jun. 2012; in Zhurihe Training Base in Inner Mongolia, China, in Aug. 2014; in the Edelweiss Training Area in Balykchy, Kyrgyzstan, in Sep. 2016; in Chebarkul, Chelyabinsk, Russia, in Aug. 2018

 

 

Table 7 Major Regional Security Dialogues and
Cooperation Platforms Joined by the PLA and the PAP

(Up to Dec. 2018)

Platform Year of Inception Description
China-Africa Defense and Security Forum 2018 Hosted by China’s MND, the forum was held in Beijing from 26th Jun. to 10th Jul., 2018. With the theme of “cooperation and mutual assistance”, in-depth discussions were held on topics including China-Africa defense and security cooperation and Africa’s security situation. 50 representatives attended from defense departments or militaries of African countries and African Union, including 12 chiefs or deputy chiefs of General Staff. It is the largest and highest-level mechanism for China-Africa defense and security dialogue and cooperation.
QCCM among the Military Forces of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan 2016 The QCCM was built to provide coordination and mutual support in situation evaluation, evidence verification, intelligence sharing, capacity building, and training. China has always emphasized that the mechanism is not targeted against any other country or international organization and is ready to join all parties in expanding cooperation, increasing counter terrorism capacity, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. To date, two military leaders’ meetings have been held.
Great Wall
Counter-Terrorism International Forum
2016 The inaugural session of the forum was held in Beijing in Nov. 2016 with the theme of “counter-terrorism in urban areas”. Representatives from 25 countries including Russia, France, Egypt and Brazil participated. The second forum was held in Beijing in May 2018 with the theme of “counter-terrorism in mountainous areas”. Representatives from 27 countries including France, Nigeria, Chile and Pakistan participated.
China and Latin
America High-Level Defense Forum
2012 The biennial forum is hosted by China’s MND. With the theme of “enhancing mutual understanding and collaboration”, the forum aims to promote Latin-American militaries’ understanding of and trust in China and its military, and facilitate continued military exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and Latin-American militaries. The forum is represented by defense and military leadership from major Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries.
ASEAN Defense
Ministers’ Meeting Plus
2010 ADMM-Plus is the largest and highest-level dialogue and cooperation mechanism on defense and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2016, under the mechanism, the PLA has participated in a joint exercise on peacekeeping and demining in India, and exercises on maritime security and counter-terrorism in both Brunei and Singapore. From 2017 to 2020, China and Thailand co-chair the counter-terrorism expert working group.
Beijing Xiangshan Forum 2006 This annual forum is co-hosted by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies. The Xiangshan Forum was upgraded to a track-1.5 platform of international security and defense dialogue in 2014. It was renamed the Beijing Xiangshan Forum in 2018. The forum advocates the principles of equality, openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning. In Oct. 2018, the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was held with the participation of over 500 representatives from 67 countries and 7 international organizations. The forum injected strong positive energy into regional and international security cooperation.
Shangri-La
Dialogue
2002 The dialogue is hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank based in London, and co-hosted by the Ministry of Defense of Singapore. It is held in early June every year in the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. At the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018, the Chinese delegation, on the topic of “Strategic Implications of Military Capability Development in the Asia-Pacific”, explained the important proposals of President Xi Jinping on building a new model of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind, and actively promoted a joint effort with relevant countries to maintain regional security and stability.
SCO 2001 Established in 2001 on the basis of the Shanghai Five (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan) mechanism, the SCO aims to enhance mutual trust, good-neighborliness and friendship among the member states, encourages the member states to effectively cooperate in such fields as politics, economy, culture and education. The organization is committed to maintaining and safeguarding regional peace, security and stability and building a new international political and economic order that is democratic, fair and equitable. The member states have signed important documents including the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborly Relations, Friendships and Cooperation among the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States. From 9th to 10th Jun. 2018 in Qingdao, President Xi Jinping presided over the first Council of Heads of State of the SCO with an expanded membership, and stressed that member states will continue to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, make joint efforts to build an SCO community with a shared future, and promote a new model of international relations.
Chiefs of Defense
Conference
1998 Initiated by the US PACOM, the conference is held annually and alternates between the US and other Asia-Pacific countries. China has participated every year since 2014. At the conference in Sep. 2017, the Chinese side focused on explaining President Xi Jinping’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the new proposals on security, and advocated that relevant countries should enhance strategic mutual trust and cooperate to meet global challenges.
ASEAN Regional Forum 1994 The forum has a membership of 27 countries and is the official multilateral platform for security dialogue and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. Since 2015, China has hosted important meetings and events including the ARF Peacekeeping Experts’ Meeting, the ARF Defense Officials’ Dialogue, the ARF Heads of Defense Universities/Colleges/Institutions Meeting, and the ARF Security Policy Conference.

 

 

 

 

Table 8 Main UNPKOs the PLA Participated

(Up to Dec. 2018)

Starting Date Mission Area Troops Mission Description
Jan. 2014 Mali
(MINUSMA)
Force protection unit of 170 troops, engineering unit of 155 troops, and medical unit of 70 troops In Mali, the engineering unit built and repaired 2,900 m of roads, leveled 400,000 m² of ground, and installed 667 prefabricated houses; the force protection unit conducted 2,710 armed patrols and security tasks; and the medical unit treated 8,120 patients.
Jan. 2012 South Sudan
(UNMISS)
Infantry battalion of 700 troops, engineering unit of 268 troops, and medical unit of 63 troops In South Sudan, the engineering unit built and maintained 5,365 km of roads, repaired 7 bridges, and installed 72 prefabricated houses; the medical unit treated 21,000 patients; the infantry battalion conducted 63 long/short-distance patrols, and carried out 216 armed escorts and 42 inspections in refugee camps, covering a total mileage of 1,020,000 km.
Nov. 2007 Sudan
(UNAMID)
Engineering unit of 225 troops, helicopter unit of 140 troops In Darfur, Sudan, the engineering unit built and repaired 89 km of roads, installed 400 prefabricated houses and drilled 14 wells; the helicopter unit flew 800 sorties totaling 1,150 hours, transporting 5,500 persons and 230 tons of materials.
Apr. 2006 Lebanon
(UNIFIL)
Multi-functional engineering unit of 180 troops, construction engineering unit of 200 troops, and medical unit of 30 troops In Lebanon, the engineering unit cleared 10,342 mines and items of unexploded ordnance; completed maintenance tasks on houses and equipment; and received and treated 78,900 patients.
Apr. 2003 DR Congo
(MONUSCO)
Engineering unit of 175 troops and medical unit of 43 troops In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the engineering unit built 4,650 km of roads and 214 bridges; and the medical unit treated 35,000 patients.
Notes: In addition to the units, the PLA has sent over 80 military observers, staff officers and military officers under UN contract to the 5 above-mentioned UNPKOs, UNTSO, MINURSO and UN Headquarters.

 

 

 

Table 9 Major International HADR Operations Participated by the PLA Since 2012

Starting Date Countries Concerned Mission Description
Jun. 2018 Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Venezuela, Grenada, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Chile The PLAN hospital ship Ark Peacesailed over 30,000 nautical miles for the tasks of Mission Harmony-2018, diagnosed and treated 50,884 people, hospitalized 288 people, performed 288 surgical operations, and provided auxiliary examinations for more than 20,000 people.
Jul. 2018 Laos After the collapse of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower dam, under construction in southern province Attapeu of Laos, the PLA sent its medical unit participating in the Peace Train-2018 humanitarian medical relief joint exercise to the disaster-hit area by land and air, taking ambulances, epidemic prevention vehicles, first-aid equipment and medicine with them, to join the rescue, medical treatment and epidemic prevention efforts.
Aug. 2017 Sri Lanka The PLAN task group visited Sri Lanka at a time when the country had been hit by a severe flood. The task group participated immediately in the disaster relief efforts by sending a medical team to the affected area to provide medical services and epidemic prevention, and donating relief materials including rubber boats.
Jun. 2016 Vietnam After the air crash in Vietnam, the PLA sent naval vessels and aircraft to assist in searching for the crashed plane and rescuing the crew.
Aug. 2015 Myanmar In the severe flood in Myanmar, the PLA deployed 2 transport aircraft to deliver 3 batches of tents, blankets and generators.
May. 2015 Nepal After the strong earthquake in Nepal, the PLA sent 8 specialized teams totaling 1,088 people including rescue teams, medical and epidemic prevention teams, and transport teams to the affected area. They treated 5,294 people, decontaminated an area of 940,000 m2, airlifted 690 tons of relief materials and restored over 330 km of roads.
Jan. 2015 Malaysia After the severe flood in Malaysia, the PLAAF sent aircraft to transport relief materials such as tents, water pumps and water purification facilities.
Dec. 2014 Maldives In the severe water scarcity in Male, the capital city of Maldives, the PLAN submarine support ship Changxingdaoused its ship borne desalting devices to provide fresh water for the affected population. The PLAAF provided emergency delivery of over 40 tons of bottled water by an IL-76.
Aug. 2014 The Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau After the outbreak of Ebola in west Africa, the PLA sent 524 medical staff in 7 groups to conduct epidemic prevention operations. They built a treatment center, hospitalized 938 suspected patients and trained more than 3,000 local medical staff.
Mar. 2014 Malaysia, Australia After the Malaysian Airliner MH370 lost contact, the PLAN sent 9 surface vessels, 6 ship borne helicopters and 2,185 service members to the search missions in the Malacca Strait, the Adman Sea, and waters in southwest and west to Australia. The vessels sailed 98,000 nautical miles in 7,679 sailing hours and searched 744,000 km2 of sea. The PLAAF sent 2 IL-76 and 1 Y-8C to Malaysia and Australia on multinational joint search and rescue missions. The PLAAF organized 35 search flight sorties totaling 267 hours and 3 minutes, and covering a total flight distance of 167,000 km.
Nov. 2013 The Philippines After Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, the PLAN hospital ship Ark Peace was sent to conduct medical aid operations. In total, it treated 2,208 injured people, hospitalized 113 people, performed 44 surgical operations, transported 757 people in 76 helicopter sorties and 718 people in 104 boat sorties.

 

 

Table 10 Participation of the PLA in the Fanfare for Peace Military Tattoos

No. Date Location Participating Bands Activities
1st 20th-29th Aug. 2014 Beijing and Inner Mongolia, China 9 military bands from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, 660 people in total The opening ceremony and marching performance in China’s National Indoor Stadium, a parade and a pageant performance at the Olympic Center, and the closing ceremony of the military tattoo and of the Peace Mission-2014 joint counter-terrorism exercise in Zhurihe Training Base in Inner Mongolia
2nd 29th-30th Jun. 2015 St. Petersburg, Russia 12 military bands from Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, over 300 people in total A concert and a parade at the Palace Square of Russia and a pageant performance in the Peter and Paul Fortress
3rd 7th-8th Jun. 2016 Astana,
Kazakhstan
7 military bands from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, nearly 350 people in total A concert in the concert hall of the Military Museum of Kazakhstan, a pageant performance at Bayterek Square, and a parade for the defense ministers on the square in front of the National Opera House
4th 26th-28th Aug. 2017 Shanghai, China 6 military bands from China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan, 426 people in total The opening ceremony and marching performance in Yuanshen Gymnasium, a pageant performance at the Expo Park of Shanghai, and a second performance in the Yuanshen Gymnasium
5th 21st-25th Apr. 2018 Beijing, China 8 military bands from China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Russia and Belarus, over 400 people in total The opening ceremony and marching performance at the Juyongguan Pass of the Great Wall with the defense ministers in the audience, a parade in the Beijing’s Olympic Park and a second performance at the Juyongguan Pass of the Great Wall

 

 

 

Acronyms

ADMM-Plus ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus
AI artificial intelligence
AMS Academy of Military Sciences
ARF ASEAN Regional Forum
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
CICA Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia
CMC Central Military Commission
CMCAO CMC Audit Office
CMCDIC CMC Discipline Inspection Commission
CMCPLC CMC Politics and Law Commission
CMCSC CMC Supervision Commission
CMI civil-military integration
COC Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
CPC Communist Party of China
CPCCC CPC Central Committee
CPI consumer price index
DOC Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea
ECM electronic countermeasures
EU European Union
GDP gross domestic product
HADR humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
IT information technology
MAC Military Area Command
MINURSO United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MINUSMA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
MND Ministry of National Defense
MONUSCO United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NBC nuclear, biological and chemical weapons
NBCE nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and explosives
NDU National Defense University
NUDT National University of Defense Technology
PACOM Pacific Command
PAP People’s Armed Police
PCRS Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System
PLA People’s Liberation Army
PLAA PLA Army
PLAAF PLA Air Force
PLAJLSF PLA Joint Logistic Support Force
PLAN PLA Navy
PLARF PLA Rocket Force
PLASSF PLA Strategic Support Force
PRC People’s Republic of China
QCCM Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism
RMA Revolution in Military Affairs
R&D research and development
SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organization
SLOCs sea lines of communication
S&T science and technology
TC Theater Command
ETC Eastern Theater Command
STC Southern Theater Command
WTC Western Theater Command
NTC Northern Theater Command
CTC Central Theater Command
THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
UN United Nations
UNMISS UN Mission in South Sudan
UNAMID UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur
UNIFIL UN Interim Force in Lebanon
UNSC UN Security Council
UNPKO UN peacekeeping operation
UNTSO UN Truce Supervision Organization

 

新时代的中国国防
2019-07-24 11:31:38 来源: 新华网

  新华社北京7月24日电 国务院新闻办公室24日发表《新时代的中国国防》白皮书,全文如下:

新时代的中国国防

中华人民共和国

国务院新闻办公室

(2019年7月)

  目录

  前言

  一、国际安全形势

  二、新时代中国防御性国防政策

  三、履行新时代军队使命任务

  四、改革中的中国国防和军队

  五、合理适度的国防开支

  六、积极服务构建人类命运共同体

  结束语

前言

当今世界,人类日益成为利益交融、安危与共的命运共同体。当今中国,正处于全面建成小康社会、开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程的关键阶段,中国特色社会主义进入了新时代。

为宣示新时代中国防御性国防政策,介绍中国建设巩固国防和强大军队的实践、目的、意义,增进国际社会对中国国防的理解,中国政府发表《新时代的中国国防》白皮书。

 一、国际安全形势

当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局,世界多极化、经济全球化、社会信息化、文化多样化深入发展,和平、发展、合作、共赢的时代潮流不可逆转,但国际安全面临的不稳定性不确定性更加突出,世界并不太平。

  国际战略格局深刻演变

国际力量加快分化组合,新兴市场国家和发展中国家力量持续上升,战略力量对比此消彼长、更趋均衡,促和平、求稳定、谋发展已成为国际社会的普遍诉求,和平力量的上升远远超过战争因素的增长。但是,霸权主义、强权政治、单边主义时有抬头,地区冲突和局部战争持续不断,国际安全体系和秩序受到冲击。

国际战略竞争呈上升之势。美国调整国家安全战略和国防战略,奉行单边主义政策,挑起和加剧大国竞争,大幅增加军费投入,加快提升核、太空、网络、导弹防御等领域能力,损害全球战略稳定。北约持续扩员,加强在中东欧地区军事部署,频繁举行军事演习。俄罗斯强化核、非核战略遏制能力,努力维护战略安全空间和自身利益。欧盟独立维护自身安全的倾向增强,加快推进安全和防务一体化建设。

全球和地区性安全问题持续增多。国际军控和裁军遭遇挫折,军备竞赛趋势显现。防止大规模杀伤性武器扩散形势错综复杂,国际防扩散机制受到实用主义和双重标准危害,面临新的挑战。极端主义、恐怖主义不断蔓延,网络安全、生物安全、海盗活动等非传统安全威胁日益凸显。伊朗核问题解决出现波折,叙利亚问题政治解决仍面临困难。各国安全的交融性、关联性、互动性不断增强,没有哪一个国家能够独立应对或独善其身。

 亚太安全形势总体稳定

亚太各国命运共同体意识增强,通过对话协商处理分歧和争端成为主要政策取向,推动本地区成为全球格局中的稳定板块。上海合作组织构建不结盟、不对抗、不针对第三方的建设性伙伴关系,拓展防务安全领域合作,开创区域安全合作新模式。中国-东盟防长非正式会晤、东盟防长扩大会发挥积极作用,通过加强军事交流合作等途径促进相互信任。南海形势趋稳向好,域内国家妥善管控风险分歧。地区国家军队反恐协调机制等合作不断深化。均衡稳定、开放包容的亚洲特色安全架构不断发展。

世界经济和战略重心继续向亚太地区转移,亚太地区成为大国博弈的焦点,给地区安全带来不确定性。美国强化亚太军事同盟,加大军事部署和干预力度,给亚太安全增添复杂因素。美国在韩国部署“萨德”反导系统,严重破坏地区战略平衡,严重损害地区国家战略安全利益。日本调整军事安全政策,增加投入,谋求突破“战后体制”,军事外向性增强。澳大利亚持续巩固与美国的军事同盟,强化亚太地区军事参与力度,试图在安全事务中发挥更大作用。

地区热点和争议问题依然存在。朝鲜半岛局势有所缓和但仍存在不确定因素,南亚形势总体稳定但印巴冲突不时发生,阿富汗国内政治和解和重建艰难推进。部分国家之间的领土和海洋权益争端、民族宗教矛盾等问题仍然存在,地区安全热点问题时起时伏。

国家安全面临的风险挑战不容忽视

中国继续保持政治安定、民族团结、社会稳定的良好局面,综合国力、国际影响力、抵御风险能力明显增强,仍处于发展的重要战略机遇期,同时也面临多元复杂的安全威胁和挑战。

反分裂斗争形势更加严峻,民进党当局顽固坚持“台独”分裂立场,拒不承认体现一个中国原则的“九二共识”,加紧推行“去中国化”“渐进台独”,图谋推动“法理台独”,强化敌意对抗,挟洋自重,在分裂道路上越走越远。“台独”分裂势力及其活动始终是台海和平稳定的最大现实威胁,是祖国和平统一的最大障碍。境外“藏独”“东突”等分裂势力活动频繁,对国家安全和社会稳定构成威胁。

国土安全依然面临威胁,陆地边界争议尚未彻底解决,岛屿领土问题和海洋划界争端依然存在,个别域外国家舰机对中国频繁实施抵近侦察,多次非法闯入中国领海及有关岛礁邻近海空域,危害中国国家安全。

中国海外利益面临国际和地区动荡、恐怖主义、海盗活动等现实威胁,驻外机构、海外企业及人员多次遭到袭击。太空、网络安全威胁日益显现,自然灾害、重大疫情等非传统安全问题的危害上升。

  国际军事竞争日趋激烈

世界各主要国家纷纷调整安全战略、军事战略,调整军队组织形态,发展新型作战力量,抢占军事竞争战略制高点。美国进行军事技术和体制创新,谋求绝对军事优势。俄罗斯深入推进“新面貌”军事改革,英国、法国、德国、日本、印度等国都在调整优化军事力量体系。

在新一轮科技革命和产业变革推动下,人工智能、量子信息、大数据、云计算、物联网等前沿科技加速应用于军事领域,国际军事竞争格局正在发生历史性变化。以信息技术为核心的军事高新技术日新月异,武器装备远程精确化、智能化、隐身化、无人化趋势更加明显,战争形态加速向信息化战争演变,智能化战争初现端倪。

中国特色军事变革取得重大进展,但机械化建设任务尚未完成,信息化水平亟待提高,军事安全面临技术突袭和技术代差被拉大的风险,军队现代化水平与国家安全需求相比差距还很大,与世界先进军事水平相比差距还很大。

二、新时代中国防御性国防政策

中国的社会主义国家性质,走和平发展道路的战略抉择,独立自主的和平外交政策,“和为贵”的中华文化传统,决定了中国始终不渝奉行防御性国防政策。

坚决捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益

这是新时代中国国防的根本目标。

慑止和抵抗侵略,保卫国家政治安全、人民安全和社会稳定,反对和遏制“台独”,打击“藏独”“东突”等分裂势力,保卫国家主权、统一、领土完整和安全。维护国家海洋权益,维护国家在太空、电磁、网络空间等安全利益,维护国家海外利益,支撑国家可持续发展。

中国坚定维护国家主权和领土完整。南海诸岛、钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿是中国固有领土。中国在南海岛礁进行基础设施建设,部署必要的防御性力量,在东海钓鱼岛海域进行巡航,是依法行使国家主权。中国致力于同直接有关的当事国在尊重历史事实和国际法的基础上,通过谈判协商解决有关争议。中国坚持同地区国家一道维护和平稳定,坚定维护各国依据国际法所享有的航行和飞越自由,维护海上通道安全。

解决台湾问题,实现国家完全统一,是中华民族的根本利益,是实现中华民族伟大复兴的必然要求。中国坚持“和平统一、一国两制”方针,推动两岸关系和平发展,推进中国和平统一进程,坚决反对一切分裂中国的图谋和行径,坚决反对任何外国势力干涉。中国必须统一,也必然统一。中国有坚定决心和强大能力维护国家主权和领土完整,决不允许任何人、任何组织、任何政党、在任何时候、以任何形式、把任何一块中国领土从中国分裂出去。我们不承诺放弃使用武力,保留采取一切必要措施的选项,针对的是外部势力干涉和极少数“台独”分裂分子及其分裂活动,绝非针对台湾同胞。如果有人要把台湾从中国分裂出去,中国军队将不惜一切代价,坚决予以挫败,捍卫国家统一。

 坚持永不称霸、永不扩张、永不谋求势力范围

这是新时代中国国防的鲜明特征。

国虽大,好战必亡。中华民族历来爱好和平。近代以来,中国人民饱受侵略和战乱之苦,深感和平之珍贵、发展之迫切,决不会把自己经受过的悲惨遭遇强加于人。新中国成立70年来,中国没有主动挑起过任何一场战争和冲突。改革开放以来,中国致力于促进世界和平,主动裁减军队员额400余万。中国由积贫积弱发展成为世界第二大经济体,靠的不是别人的施舍,更不是军事扩张和殖民掠夺,而是人民勤劳、维护和平。中国既通过维护世界和平为自身发展创造有利条件,又通过自身发展促进世界和平,真诚希望所有国家都选择和平发展道路,共同防范冲突和战争。

中国坚持在和平共处五项原则基础上发展同各国的友好合作,尊重各国人民自主选择发展道路的权利,主张通过平等对话和谈判协商解决国际争端,反对干涉别国内政,反对恃强凌弱,反对把自己的意志强加于人。中国坚持结伴不结盟,不参加任何军事集团,反对侵略扩张,反对动辄使用武力或以武力相威胁。中国的国防建设和发展,始终着眼于满足自身安全的正当需要,始终是世界和平力量的增长。历史已经并将继续证明,中国决不走追逐霸权、“国强必霸”的老路。无论将来发展到哪一步,中国都不会威胁谁,都不会谋求建立势力范围。

贯彻落实新时代军事战略方针

这是新时代中国国防的战略指导。

新时代军事战略方针,坚持防御、自卫、后发制人原则,实行积极防御,坚持“人不犯我、我不犯人,人若犯我、我必犯人”,强调遏制战争与打赢战争相统一,强调战略上防御与战役战斗上进攻相统一。

贯彻落实新时代军事战略方针,服从服务党和国家战略全局,落实总体国家安全观,强化忧患意识、危机意识、打仗意识,积极适应战略竞争新格局、国家安全新需求、现代战争新形态,有效履行新时代军队使命任务。根据国家面临的安全威胁,扎实做好军事斗争准备,全面提高新时代备战打仗能力,构建立足防御、多域统筹、均衡稳定的新时代军事战略布局。坚持全民国防,创新人民战争的战略战术和内容方法,充分发挥人民战争整体威力。

中国始终奉行在任何时候和任何情况下都不首先使用核武器、无条件不对无核武器国家和无核武器区使用或威胁使用核武器的核政策,主张最终全面禁止和彻底销毁核武器,不会与任何国家进行核军备竞赛,始终把自身核力量维持在国家安全需要的最低水平。中国坚持自卫防御核战略,目的是遏制他国对中国使用或威胁使用核武器,确保国家战略安全。

坚持走中国特色强军之路

这是新时代中国国防的发展路径。

建设同国际地位相称、同国家安全和发展利益相适应的巩固国防和强大军队,是中国社会主义现代化建设的战略任务,是坚持走和平发展道路的安全保障,是总结历史经验的必然选择。

新时代中国国防和军队建设,深入贯彻习近平强军思想,深入贯彻习近平军事战略思想,坚持政治建军、改革强军、科技兴军、依法治军,聚焦能打仗、打胜仗,推动机械化信息化融合发展,加快军事智能化发展,构建中国特色现代军事力量体系,完善和发展中国特色社会主义军事制度,不断提高履行新时代使命任务的能力。

新时代中国国防和军队建设的战略目标是,到2020年基本实现机械化,信息化建设取得重大进展,战略能力有大的提升。同国家现代化进程相一致,全面推进军事理论现代化、军队组织形态现代化、军事人员现代化、武器装备现代化,力争到2035年基本实现国防和军队现代化,到本世纪中叶把人民军队全面建成世界一流军队。

服务构建人类命运共同体

这是新时代中国国防的世界意义。

中国人民的梦想与世界人民的梦想息息相通。一个和平稳定繁荣的中国,是世界的机遇和福祉。一支强大的中国军队,是维护世界和平稳定、服务构建人类命运共同体的坚定力量。

中国军队坚持共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观,秉持正确义利观,积极参与全球安全治理体系改革,深化双边和多边安全合作,促进不同安全机制间协调包容、互补合作,营造平等互信、公平正义、共建共享的安全格局。

中国军队坚持履行国际责任和义务,始终高举合作共赢的旗帜,在力所能及的范围内向国际社会提供更多公共安全产品,积极参加国际维和、海上护航、人道主义救援等行动,加强国际军控和防扩散合作,建设性参与热点问题的政治解决,共同维护国际通道安全,合力应对恐怖主义、网络安全、重大自然灾害等全球性挑战,积极为构建人类命运共同体贡献力量。

 三、履行新时代军队使命任务

进入新时代,中国军队依据国家安全和发展战略要求,坚决履行党和人民赋予的使命任务,为巩固中国共产党领导和社会主义制度提供战略支撑,为捍卫国家主权、统一、领土完整提供战略支撑,为维护国家海外利益提供战略支撑,为促进世界和平与发展提供战略支撑。

 维护国家领土主权和海洋权益

中国拥有2.2万多千米陆地边界、1.8万多千米大陆海岸线,是世界上邻国最多、陆地边界最长、海上安全环境十分复杂的国家之一,维护领土主权、海洋权益和国家统一的任务艰巨繁重。

中国军队严密防范各类蚕食、渗透、破坏和袭扰活动,维护边防安全稳定。中国同周边9个国家签订边防合作协议,同12个国家建立边防会谈会晤机制,构建起国防部、战区、边防部队三级对外交往机制,常态化开展友好互访、工作会谈和联合巡逻执勤、联合打击跨境犯罪演练等活动。同哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、俄罗斯、塔吉克斯坦开展边境裁军履约工作。加强中印方向稳边固防,采取有力措施为和平解决洞朗对峙事件创造有利条件。强化中阿边境管控,严防暴恐分子渗透。加强中缅方向安全管控,维护边境地区安宁和人民安全。2012年以来,中国边防部队同邻国军队共进行3300余次联合巡逻,举行8100余次边防会晤,在中越、中缅方向开展边境扫雷约58平方千米,封围雷场约25平方千米,排除地雷等爆炸物约17万枚。

组织东海、南海、黄海等重要海区和岛礁警戒防卫,掌握周边海上态势,组织海上联合维权执法,妥善处置海空情况,坚决应对海上安全威胁和侵权挑衅行为。2012年以来,组织舰艇警戒巡逻4600余次和维权执法7.2万余次,维护海洋和平安宁和良好秩序。

组织空防和对空侦察预警,监视国家领空及周边地区空中动态,组织空中警巡、战斗起飞,有效处置各种空中安全威胁和突发情况,维护空中秩序,维护空防安全。

着眼捍卫国家统一,加强以海上方向为重点的军事斗争准备,组织舰机“绕岛巡航”,对“台独”分裂势力发出严正警告。

 保持常备不懈的战备状态

军队保持战备状态,是有效应对安全威胁、履行使命任务的重要保证。中央军委和战区联合作战指挥机构严格落实战备值班制度,常态组织战备检查、战备拉动,保持随时能战状态,不断提高联合作战指挥能力,稳妥高效指挥处置各类突发情况,有效遂行各种急难险重任务。2018年,中央军委组织全军战备突击检查和部队整建制拉动,行动范围覆盖21个省、自治区、直辖市和东海、南海部分海域。

解放军和武警部队强化战备观念,严格战备制度,加强战备值班执勤,扎实开展战备演练,建立正规战备秩序,保持良好战备状态,有效遂行战备(战斗)值班、巡逻执勤等任务。

 开展实战化军事训练

军事训练是和平时期军队的基本实践活动。中国军队坚持把军事训练摆在重要位置,牢固树立战斗力这个唯一的根本的标准,完善军事训练法规和标准体系,建立健全训练监察体系,组织全军应急应战军事训练监察,落实练兵备战工作责任制,开展群众性练兵比武活动,不断提高实战化训练水平。

全军兴起大抓实战化军事训练的热潮。2012年以来,全军部队广泛开展各战略方向使命课题针对性训练和各军兵种演训,师旅规模以上联合实兵演习80余场。

各战区强化联合训练主体责任,扎实开展联合训练,结合各战略方向使命任务,组织“东部”“南部”“西部”“北部”“中部”系列联合实兵演习,努力提高联合作战能力。

陆军广泛开展军事训练大比武,实施“跨越”“火力”等实兵实装实弹演习。海军拓展远海训练,航母编队首次在西太平洋海域开展远海作战演练,在南海海域和青岛附近海空域举行海上阅兵,组织“机动”系列实兵对抗演习和成体系全要素演习。空军加强体系化实案化全疆域训练,组织南海战巡、东海警巡、前出西太,常态化开展“红剑”等系列体系对抗演习。火箭军组织对抗性检验性训练、整旅整团实案化训练,强化联合火力打击训练,常态化开展“天剑”系列演习。战略支援部队积极融入联合作战体系,扎实开展新型领域对抗演练和应急应战训练。联勤保障部队推进融入联合作战体系,组织“联勤使命-2018”等系列演习演练。武警部队按照覆盖全国、高效联动、全域响应、多能一体的要求,实施“卫士”等系列演习。

 维护重大安全领域利益

核力量是维护国家主权和安全的战略基石。中国军队严格核武器及相关设施安全管理,保持适度戒备状态,提高战略威慑能力,确保国家战略安全,维护国际战略稳定。

太空是国际战略竞争制高点,太空安全是国家建设和社会发展的战略保障。着眼和平利用太空,中国积极参与国际太空合作,加快发展相应的技术和力量,统筹管理天基信息资源,跟踪掌握太空态势,保卫太空资产安全,提高安全进出、开放利用太空能力。

网络空间是国家安全和经济社会发展的关键领域。网络安全是全球性挑战,也是中国面临的严峻安全威胁。中国军队加快网络空间力量建设,大力发展网络安全防御手段,建设与中国国际地位相称、与网络强国相适应的网络空间防护力量,筑牢国家网络边防,及时发现和抵御网络入侵,保障信息网络安全,坚决捍卫国家网络主权、信息安全和社会稳定。

 遂行反恐维稳

中国坚决反对一切形式的恐怖主义、极端主义。中国武装力量依法参加维护社会秩序行动,防范和打击暴力恐怖活动,维护国家政治安全和社会大局稳定,保障人民群众安居乐业。

武警部队执行重要目标守卫警戒、现场警卫、要道设卡和城市武装巡逻等任务,协同国家机关依法参加执法行动,打击违法犯罪团伙和恐怖主义活动,积极参与社会面防控,着力防范和处置各类危害国家政治安全、社会秩序的隐患,为“平安中国”建设作出重要贡献。2012年以来,每年均动用大量兵力担负执勤安保、反恐处突、海上维权执法等任务,参加二十国集团领导人峰会、亚太经合组织领导人非正式会议、“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛、金砖国家领导人会晤、上海合作组织青岛峰会等警卫安保任务近万起,参与处置劫持人质事件和严重暴力恐怖事件671起。2014年以来,协助新疆维吾尔自治区政府打掉暴力恐怖团伙1588个,抓获暴力恐怖人员12995人。

解放军依法协助地方政府维护社会稳定,参加重大安保行动及处置其他各类突发事件,主要承担防范恐怖活动、核生化检测、医疗救援、运输保障、排除水域安全隐患、保卫重大活动举办地和周边地区空中安全等任务。

  维护海外利益

海外利益是中国国家利益的重要组成部分。有效维护海外中国公民、组织和机构的安全和正当权益,是中国军队担负的任务。

中国军队积极推动国际安全和军事合作,完善海外利益保护机制。着眼弥补海外行动和保障能力差距,发展远洋力量,建设海外补给点,增强遂行多样化军事任务能力。实施海上护航,维护海上战略通道安全,遂行海外撤侨、海上维权等行动。

2017年8月,中国人民解放军驻吉布提保障基地正式投入使用。自开营以来,已为4批次护航编队保障维修器材,为百余名护航官兵提供医疗保障服务,同外军开展联合医疗救援演练等活动,并向当地学校捐赠600余件教学器材。

2015年3月,也门安全局势严重恶化,中国海军护航编队赴也门亚丁湾海域,首次直接靠泊交战区域港口,安全撤离621名中国公民和279名来自巴基斯坦、埃塞俄比亚、新加坡、意大利、波兰、德国、加拿大、英国、印度、日本等15个国家的公民。

  参加抢险救灾

参加国家建设事业、保卫人民和平劳动,是宪法赋予中国武装力量的使命任务。依据《军队参加抢险救灾条例》,中国武装力量主要担负解救、转移或者疏散受困人员,保护重要目标安全,抢救、运送重要物资,参加道路(桥梁、隧道)抢修、海上搜救、核生化救援、疫情控制、医疗救护等专业抢险,排除或者控制其他危重险情、灾情,协助地方人民政府开展灾后重建工作等任务。

2012年以来,解放军和武警部队共出动95万人次、组织民兵141万人次,动用车辆及工程机械19万台次、船艇2.6万艘次、飞机(直升机)820架次参加抢险救灾。先后参加云南鲁甸地震救灾、长江中下游暴雨洪涝灾害抗洪抢险、雅鲁藏布江堰塞湖排险等救灾救援行动,协助地方政府解救、转移安置群众500余万人,巡诊救治病员21万余人次,抢运物资36万余吨,加固堤坝3600余千米。2017年,驻澳门部队出动兵力2631人次,车辆160余台次,协助特别行政区政府开展强台风“天鸽”灾后救援。

 四、改革中的中国国防和军队

人民军队发展史,就是一部改革创新史。进入新时代,适应世界新军事革命发展趋势和国家安全需求,中国全面推进国防和军队现代化建设,全面深化国防和军队改革,着力解决体制性障碍、结构性矛盾、政策性问题,迈出了强军兴军历史性步伐。

  重塑领导指挥体制

领导指挥体制改革是适应现代军队专业化分工和信息时代能打仗、打胜仗的要求,提高军队作战效能和建设效益的重大举措。按照“军委管总、战区主战、军种主建”原则,强化军委集中统一领导和战略指挥、战略管理功能,打破长期实行的总部体制、大军区体制、大陆军体制,构建新的军队领导管理和作战指挥体制。

调整组建新的军委机关部门。优化军委机关职能配置和机构设置,由过去的总参谋部、总政治部、总后勤部、总装备部四总部调整为军委机关15个职能部门,作为军委集中领导的参谋机关、执行机关、服务机关。指挥、建设、管理、监督等路径更加清晰,决策、规划、执行、评估等职能配置更加合理。

完善军兵种领导管理体制。整合原四总部的陆军建设职能,成立陆军领导机构;整合各军种和军委机关的战略支援力量,成立战略支援部队;第二炮兵更名为火箭军;整合主要承担通用保障任务的战略战役力量,成立联勤保障部队,构建起“中央军委-军种-部队”的领导管理体系。

  建立健全联合作战指挥体制。健全军委联合作战指挥机构,组建战区联合作战指挥机构,形成平战一体、常态运行、专司主营、精干高效的联合作战指挥体系。撤销沈阳、北京、兰州、济南、南京、广州、成都7个大军区,成立东部、南部、西部、北部、中部5个战区。通过改革,构建起“中央军委-战区-部队”的作战指挥体系。

  建立健全法治监督体系。组建新的军委纪律检查委员会(军委监察委员会),由中央军委直接领导,向军委机关部门和各战区派驻纪检组;组建新的军委政法委员会,按区域设置军事法院、军事检察院;组建军委审计署,改革审计监督体制,全部实行派驻审计,形成决策权、执行权、监督权既相互制约又相互协调的权力运行体系。

优化规模结构和力量编成

规模结构和力量编成改革是推进军队组织形态现代化、构建中国特色现代军事力量体系的关键一步。按照调整优化结构、发展新型力量、理顺重大比例关系、压减数量规模的要求,推动军队由数量规模型向质量效能型、人力密集型向科技密集型转变。

调整军队规模比例,重塑力量结构布局。裁减军队员额30万,现役总员额减至200万。扩大士官和文职人员编配范围,压减各级机关编制,减少各级机关内设机构、领导层级和人员,精简文艺体育新闻出版、服务保障和院校、医疗、仓库、科研院所等机构和人员,团级以上机关人员减少约四分之一,非战斗单位人员压减近一半。大幅压减陆军现役员额,保持空军现役员额稳定,适度增加海军、火箭军现役员额,优化各军兵种内部力量结构。优化后备力量结构。调整作战力量部署,形成与维护新时代国家安全需要相适应的战略布局。

调整作战部队编成,重构新型作战力量。陆军原18个集团军整合重组为13个集团军。在全军主要作战部队实行“军-旅-营”体制,充实兵种作战力量,减少指挥层级,降低合成重心。增加特种作战、立体攻防、两栖作战、远海防卫、战略投送等新型作战力量,推动部队编成向充实、合成、多能、灵活方向发展。

优化院校力量布局,重构军事科研体系。解放军和武警部队原有77所院校整合为44所,重塑国防大学、国防科技大学。成立军委军事科学研究指导委员会,调整组建新的军事科学院、军种研究院,形成以军事科学院为龙头、军兵种科研机构为骨干、院校和部队科研力量为辅助的军事科研力量布局。

  推进军事政策制度改革

坚持战斗力标准,着眼调动军事人员积极性、主动性、创造性,整体设计和推进军事政策制度改革,建立健全中国特色社会主义军事政策制度体系。

深化军队党的建设制度改革,维护党中央权威和集中统一领导,确保党对军队绝对领导。制定《关于加强新时代军队党的建设的决定》等法规制度,推进完善军队党的政治建设、思想建设、组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设制度。

创新军事力量运用政策制度,有效保障全面履行新时代军队使命任务。制定《海上护航行动条例(试行)》等法规制度,推进完善军事战略指导制度、战备工作条例、联合作战法规等。

重塑军事力量建设政策制度,更好解放和发展战斗力。制定修订《国防交通法》《军事设施保护法》《文职人员条例》等法规制度,颁布实施新军事训练条例和军事训练大纲。推进建立军官职业化制度,优化军人待遇保障,健全军人荣誉体系,完善军事训练、装备发展、后勤建设、军事科研、国防动员等方面政策制度,加快推进军官法、兵役法等立法进程。

改革军事管理政策制度,提升军事系统运行效能,推动军队高质量发展。制定修订《内务条令(试行)》《纪律条令(试行)》《队列条令(试行)》《军事立法工作条例》等法规制度,推进战略管理、军费管理、军事司法等制度创新。

全面停止军队有偿服务。截至2018年6月,军队各级机关、部队及其所属事业单位从事的房地产租赁、农副业生产、招接待等15个行业的有偿服务活动基本停止,超过10万个有偿服务项目按期停止,累计停偿项目比例达到94%,军队不从事经营活动的目标基本实现。

调整改革后的军兵种和武警部队

陆军对维护国家主权、安全、发展利益具有不可替代的作用。包括机动作战部队、边海防部队、警卫警备部队等,下辖5个战区陆军、新疆军区、西藏军区等。东部战区陆军下辖第71、72、73集团军,南部战区陆军下辖第74、75集团军,西部战区陆军下辖第76、77集团军,北部战区陆军下辖第78、79、80集团军,中部战区陆军下辖第81、82、83集团军。按照机动作战、立体攻防的战略要求,加快实现区域防卫型向全域作战型转变,提高精确作战、立体作战、全域作战、多能作战、持续作战能力,努力建设一支强大的现代化新型陆军。

海军在国家安全和发展全局中具有十分重要的地位。包括潜艇部队、水面舰艇部队、航空兵、陆战队、岸防部队等,下辖东部战区海军(东海舰队)、南部战区海军(南海舰队)、北部战区海军(北海舰队),海军陆战队等。战区海军下辖基地、潜艇支队、水面舰艇支队、航空兵旅等部队。按照近海防御、远海防卫的战略要求,加快推进近海防御型向远海防卫型转变,提高战略威慑与反击、海上机动作战、海上联合作战、综合防御作战和综合保障能力,努力建设一支强大的现代化海军。

空军在国家安全和军事战略全局中具有举足轻重的地位和作用。包括航空兵、空降兵、地面防空兵、雷达兵、电子对抗部队、信息通信部队等,下辖5个战区空军、1个空降兵军等。战区空军下辖基地、航空兵旅(师)、地空导弹兵旅(师)、雷达兵旅等部队。按照空天一体、攻防兼备的战略要求,加快实现国土防空型向攻防兼备型转变,提高战略预警、空中打击、防空反导、信息对抗、空降作战、战略投送和综合保障能力,努力建设一支强大的现代化空军。

火箭军在维护国家主权、安全中具有至关重要的地位和作用。包括核导弹部队、常规导弹部队、保障部队等,下辖导弹基地等。按照核常兼备、全域慑战的战略要求,增强可信可靠的核威慑和核反击能力,加强中远程精确打击力量建设,增强战略制衡能力,努力建设一支强大的现代化火箭军。

战略支援部队是维护国家安全的新型作战力量,是新质作战能力的重要增长点。包括战场环境保障、信息通信保障、信息安全防护、新技术试验等保障力量。按照体系融合、军民融合的战略要求,推进关键领域跨越发展,推进新型作战力量加速发展、一体发展,努力建设一支强大的现代化战略支援部队。

联勤保障部队是实施联勤保障和战略战役支援保障的主体力量,是中国特色现代军事力量体系的重要组成部分。包括仓储、卫勤、运输投送、输油管线、工程建设管理、储备资产管理、采购等力量,下辖无锡、桂林、西宁、沈阳、郑州5个联勤保障中心,以及解放军总医院、解放军疾病预防控制中心等。按照联合作战、联合训练、联合保障的要求,加快融入联合作战体系,提高一体化联合保障能力,努力建设一支强大的现代化联勤保障部队。

武警部队在维护国家安全和社会稳定、保卫人民美好生活中肩负着重大职责,实行“中央军委-武警部队-部队”领导指挥体制,武警部队的根本职能属性没有发生变化,不列入解放军序列。公安边防部队、公安消防部队、公安警卫部队退出现役,国家海洋局领导管理的海警队伍转隶武警部队,武警黄金、森林、水电部队整体移交国家相关职能部门并改编为非现役专业队伍,撤收武警部队海关执勤兵力,彻底理顺武警部队领导管理和指挥使用关系。调整后,武警部队包括内卫部队、机动部队、海警部队等。按照多能一体、有效维稳的战略要求,加强执勤、处突、反恐、海上维权和行政执法、抢险救援等能力建设,努力建设一支强大的现代化武警部队。

 推进国防和军队全面建设

始终把思想政治建设摆在军队各项建设首位。牢固确立习近平强军思想的指导地位,坚决维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位,坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导,贯彻中央军委主席负责制,政治意识、大局意识、核心意识、看齐意识进一步增强。2014年12月印发《关于新形势下军队政治工作若干问题的决定》,推进政治整训,军队重整行装再出发。2018年8月召开中央军委党的建设会议,全面加强新时代军队党的领导和党的建设工作。着力培养有灵魂、有本事、有血性、有品德的新时代革命军人,锻造具有铁一般信仰、铁一般信念、铁一般纪律、铁一般担当的过硬部队。

推进国防科技和军事理论创新发展。加快实施科技兴军战略,巩固和加强优势领域,加大新兴领域创新力度,一些战略性、前沿性、颠覆性技术自主创新取得重要进展,成功研制天河二号超级计算机等一批高技术成果。聚焦战争和作战问题推进军事理论创新,推出战略、联合作战、信息化建设等一系列理论成果,为国防和军队建设提供理论支撑。

构建现代化武器装备体系。完善优化武器装备体系结构,统筹推进各军兵种武器装备发展,统筹主战装备、信息系统、保障装备发展,全面提升标准化、系列化、通用化水平。加大淘汰老旧装备力度,逐步形成以高新技术装备为骨干的武器装备体系。15式坦克、052D驱逐舰、歼-20战斗机、东风-26中远程弹道导弹等装备列装部队。

建设一切为了打仗的现代化后勤。建立以联勤部队为主干、军种为补充,统分结合、通专两线的保障体制,构建以战略战役力量为主干、队属力量为补充、社会保障为依托,联合、精干、高效的后勤力量体系,推动后勤力量融入战区联合训练、军兵种跨区训练和中外联演联训,推进前后方一体训练,初步形成快速响应、全维参战、精确保障能力。

强化战略管理。坚持需求牵引规划、规划主导资源配置,建立完善“需求-规划-预算-执行-评估”的战略管理链路。制定军队发展战略和重要领域、军兵种、武警部队发展战略,形成战略规划和计划体系。规范军队战略规划工作,颁布实施《军队建设发展“十三五”规划纲要》,健全评估、督导、调控等制度机制。

坚持依法治军从严治军。构建完善中国特色军事法治体系,推动治军方式根本性转变。强化练兵备战监督监察,深入纠治和平积弊。广泛开展法治宣传教育,建立健全法律咨询服务保障机制,推进法治军营建设。全面从严加强部队管理,贯彻落实条令条例,恢复和完善军队司号制度,组织全军安全大检查,加强重大安全隐患排查整治,加大警备纠察工作力度,开展军车管理专项整顿,建立警备工作定期通报机制,维护军队良好形象。

深入推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争。严明政治纪律政治规矩,严肃查处郭伯雄、徐才厚、房峰辉、张阳等严重违纪违法案件。严格依纪依法惩治腐败,开展重大工程建设、装备物资采购等行业领域专项整治。建立基层风气监察联系点制度,查纠官兵身边“微腐败”和不正之风。深化政治巡视,完成对军委机关部门、大单位巡视和回访巡视全覆盖。着力推进审计全覆盖,加大重点领域、重大项目、重要资金审计力度,严格领导干部经济责任审计,积极推行经费绩效审计、全程跟踪审计、军地联合审计。2012年以来,共审计3.9万个(次)单位(部门)、1.3万名团以上领导干部。反腐败斗争取得压倒性胜利,风清气正的良好政治生态基本形成。

推进国防动员现代化建设。理顺国防动员组织领导体制,加强后备力量建设,精简全国基干民兵规模,深化民兵预备役部队规模结构、力量编成改革,推进预备役部队与现役部队一体建设和运用,加快实现由保障陆军为主向保障多军兵种转变。

结合深化党和国家机构改革,组建退役军人事务部,推进省、市、县、乡镇(街道)、村(社区)退役军人服务保障体系建设,出台一系列优待优抚措施。扎实做好拥军优属、拥政爱民工作,积极参与脱贫攻坚,军政军民团结不断巩固,尊重军人、优待军人的社会氛围正在形成。

 五、合理适度的国防开支

中国坚持发展和安全兼顾、富国和强军统一,坚持国防建设与经济建设协调发展,坚持勤俭建军方针,依据国家经济发展水平和国防需求,合理确定国防费规模结构,依法管理和使用国防费。

改革开放以来,中国国防开支经历了从维持性投入到适度增长的发展历程,总体保持与国家经济和财政支出同步适度协调增长。国防费占国内生产总值(GDP)比重从1979年最高的5.43%下降到2017年的1.26%,近30年一直保持在2%以内。1979年国防费占国家财政支出比重为17.37%,2017年为5.14%,下降超过12个百分点,总体下降趋势明显。

  2012年以来中国国防费

进入新时代,与国家现代化进程相一致,着眼建设与中国国际地位相称、与国家安全和发展利益相适应的巩固国防和强大军队,进一步缩小与世界先进军事水平的差距,解决军队打现代化战争能力不够的问题,中国国防费规模保持了稳步增长,支出结构持续优化。

中国国防费按用途划分,主要由人员生活费、训练维持费和装备费构成。人员生活费用于军官、文职干部、士兵和聘用的非现役人员,以及军队供养的离退休干部工资、津贴、伙食、被装、保险、福利、抚恤等。训练维持费用于部队训练、院校教育、工程设施建设维护以及其他日常消耗性支出。装备费用于武器装备的研究、试验、采购、维修、运输、储存等。国防费的保障范围包括现役部队、预备役部队、民兵等。

2012年以来增长的国防费主要用于:(一)适应国家经济社会发展,提高和改善官兵生活福利待遇,落实军队人员工资收入定期增长机制,持续改善基层部队工作、训练和生活保障条件。(二)加大武器装备建设投入,淘汰更新部分落后装备,升级改造部分老旧装备,研发采购航空母舰、作战飞机、导弹、主战坦克等新式武器装备,稳步提高武器装备现代化水平。(三)深化国防和军队改革,保障军队领导指挥体制、部队规模结构和力量编成、军事政策制度等重大改革。(四)保障实战化训练,保障战略训练、战区联合训练、军兵种部队训练等,加强模拟化、网络化、对抗性训练条件建设。(五)保障多样化军事任务,保障国际维和、护航、人道主义救援、抢险救灾等行动。

2012年至2017年,中国国防费从6691.92亿元人民币增加到10432.37亿元人民币。中国国内生产总值(GDP)按当年价格计算年平均增长9.04%,国家财政支出年平均增长10.43%,国防费年平均增长9.42%,国防费占国内生产总值平均比重为1.28%,占国家财政支出平均比重为5.26%。国防费占国内生产总值的比重稳定,与国家财政支出保持同步协调增长。

中国国防费实行严格的财政拨款和预算管理制度。国防费使用坚持需求牵引、规划主导,坚持量入为出、量力而行,加强集中统管,统筹存量增量,逐步推行国防费绩效管理,推进以效能为核心的军费管理改革。改进和加强预算管理,深化军队资金集中收付制度改革,加快经费标准化建设步伐,完善军队资产资金管理办法。

国防费的国际比较

在2017年国防费位居世界前列的国家中,中国国防费无论是占国内生产总值和国家财政支出的比重,还是国民人均和军人人均数额,都处于较低水平。

中国已成为世界第二大经济体。国防费规模居于世界第二位,是由中国的国防需求、经济体量、防御性国防政策所决定的。从开支总量看,2017年中国国防费不到美国的四分之一。

从国防费占国内生产总值比重看,2012年至2017年,中国国防费占国内生产总值平均比重约为1.3%,美国约为3.5%、俄罗斯约为4.4%、印度约为2.5%、英国约为2.0%、法国约为2.3%、日本约为1.0%、德国约为1.2%。中国国防费占国内生产总值的平均比重在国防费位居世界前列的国家中排在第六位,是联合国安理会常任理事国中最低的。

  从国防费占财政支出比重看,2012年至2017年,中国国防费占财政支出平均比重约为5.3%,美国约为9.8%、俄罗斯约为12.4%、印度约为9.1%、英国约为4.8%、法国约为4.0%、日本约为2.5%、德国约为2.8%。中国国防费占财政支出的平均比重排在第四位。

  从人均国防费水平看,2017年中国国民人均国防费为750元人民币,约相当于美国的5%、俄罗斯的25%、印度的231%、英国的13%、法国的16%、日本的29%、德国的20%。中国军人人均国防费为52.16万元人民币,约相当于美国的15%、俄罗斯的119%、印度的166%、英国的27%、法国的38%、日本的35%、德国的30%。中国国民人均国防费排在第七位,军人人均国防费排在第六位。

中国坚持执行国防费报告和公布制度。1978年以来,中国政府每年向全国人大提交财政预算报告,并对外公布年度国防费预算总额。1995年,中国政府发布《中国的军备控制与裁军》白皮书,向世界公布国防费情况。2007年以来,中国参加联合国军费透明制度,每年向联合国提交上一财政年度国防费基本数据,按现役部队、预备役部队、民兵等类别,提交人员生活费、训练维持费、装备费三大类开支数额和国防费总额,并说明中国国防费的主要用途和占国内生产总值比重。

总体上看,中国国防费是公开透明的,开支水平是合理适度的,与世界主要国家相比,国防费占国内生产总值和财政支出的比重、人均国防费是偏低的。中国是世界上唯一尚未实现完全统一的大国,是世界上周边安全形势最复杂的国家之一,维护国家主权、领土完整、海洋权益等面临严峻挑战。中国日益走近世界舞台中央,国际社会对中国军队提供国际公共安全产品的期待不断增大。中国军队处于向信息化转型阶段,顺应世界新军事革命发展趋势、推进中国特色军事变革的任务艰巨繁重。中国国防开支与维护国家主权、安全、发展利益的保障需求相比,与履行大国国际责任义务的保障需求相比,与自身建设发展的保障需求相比,还有较大差距。中国国防开支将与国家经济发展水平相协调,继续保持适度稳定增长。

六、积极服务构建人类命运共同体

构建人类命运共同体,顺应和平发展的时代潮流,反映各国人民共同期待。中国军队忠实践行人类命运共同体理念,积极履行大国军队国际责任,全面推进新时代国际军事合作,努力为建设持久和平、普遍安全的美好世界作贡献。

  坚定维护联合国宪章宗旨和原则

作为联合国创始成员国和安理会常任理事国,中国坚定维护联合国在国际事务中的核心作用,坚定维护以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际法和国际关系基本准则,坚定维护多边主义,推动国际关系民主化,广泛参与全球安全治理,积极参与军控与裁军等领域事务,为重大问题解决和重要规则制定贡献中国方案。

中国建设性参与朝鲜半岛问题、伊朗核问题、叙利亚问题等地区热点问题政治解决,反对霸权主义、单边主义、双重标准,推动对话协商并全面认真执行联合国安理会决议。中国积极参与网络、外层空间等领域多边对话谈判,推动制定普遍接受、公正合理的国际规则。

中国一贯积极参与国际军控、裁军和防扩散努力,反对军备竞赛,维护全球战略平衡和稳定,签署或加入了《不扩散核武器条约》等数十个多边军控、裁军和防扩散条约。2015年起,中国宣布设立为期10年、总额10亿美元的中国-联合国和平与发展基金,并于2016年正式投入运行。

推动构建平等互信、合作共赢的新型安全伙伴关系

中国积极发展对外建设性军事关系,形成全方位宽领域多层次军事外交新格局。中国迄今已同150多个国家开展军事交往,在驻外使馆(团)设有130个驻外武官机构,116个国家在中国设立武官处,同41个国家和国际组织建立防务磋商对话机制54项。2012年以来,中国军队高级军事代表团出访60多个国家,有100多个国家国防部长、军队总司令来访。

中俄两军关系持续保持高位运行,为两国新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系不断充实新内涵,对维护全球战略稳定具有重要意义。中俄两军各层级交流机制持续健康推进,在高层交往、军事训练、装备技术、反恐等领域深入合作,在国际多边场合实现良好互动和配合。2012年以来,中俄两军先后举行7轮战略磋商。2018年8月至9月,中国军队应俄方邀请,首次参加俄罗斯“东方”战略演习。

中国按照不冲突不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢的原则,积极稳妥处理同美国的军事关系,努力使两军关系成为两国关系的稳定器,为推进以协调、合作、稳定为基调的中美关系作出贡献。2014年两国国防部签署建立重大军事行动相互通报信任措施机制和海空相遇安全行为准则两个谅解备忘录,2015年双方就新增“军事危机通报”“空中相遇”附件达成共识,2017年两国建立外交安全对话、联合参谋部对话机制,积极加强战略沟通、管控风险分歧。双方在防务部门、陆军、海军、空军等层面开展机制性交流,在人道主义救援减灾、反海盗、院校交流等领域开展务实合作。中国坚决反对美国售台武器、制裁中国中央军委装备发展部及该部负责人、擅闯中国领海及有关岛礁邻近海空域、实施大范围高强度抵近侦察等错误做法和挑衅行为。在中美关系中,两军关系保持了总体稳定。

中国着眼打造周边命运共同体,深化同周边国家军事伙伴关系。同周边国家军队高层保持密切交往,每年军种司令以上级别团组往来达40余批次,基本实现周边高层交往全覆盖,战略互信不断加强。同17个周边国家建立防务安全磋商和工作会晤机制,沟通渠道保持畅通。近年来,中国同周边国家常态组织反恐、维和、救援和军兵种技战术等系列联合演习和训练,广泛开展边防海防、院校智库、教育训练、医学医疗、装备技术等交流,务实合作不断深入,同东盟防务合作水平不断提升,同周边国家军事关系总体稳定。

中国积极发展同欧洲国家军事关系,各领域交流合作保持积极发展势头。着眼打造中欧和平、增长、改革、文明四大伙伴关系,中国同欧盟举行安全政策对话、反海盗联合演练、人员培训等。2016年,中国同英国举行联合撤侨室内推演,同德国举行卫勤实兵联合演习。2018年,中国同欧盟举行第三届中欧高级别安全政策研讨班。

中国加强同非洲、拉美和加勒比、南太平洋等地区发展中国家的军事交往,开展人员培训和中青年军官交流,帮助有关国家加强军队建设、提高防御能力。2018年,在北京举办中非防务安全论坛、中拉高级防务论坛、中加(勒比)南(太平洋)高级防务研讨班。

中国军队坚持互信互惠、合作共赢的原则,同世界各国军队开展务实交流合作。2012年以来,中国同30多个国家举行百余次联合演习与训练,演练内容从非传统安全领域发展到传统安全领域,演练地域从中国周边延伸至远海,参演力量从以陆军为主拓展至陆海空多军兵种。中国军队积极组织人才培养交流合作,2012年以来,向50多个国家派出军事留学生1700余名,20余所军队院校分别同40多个国家的院校建立和保持了校际交流关系,共接纳130多个国家的上万名军事人员到中国军队院校学习。

完善军事新闻发布机制,全面客观向国内外介绍说明中国国防和军队建设情况。2011年4月,建立国防部月度例行记者会制度,定期发布国防和军队建设重要信息。2012年以来,围绕深化国防和军队改革、裁减军队员额等重大事项,召开多场专题新闻发布会。组织近百家中外媒体多次赴部队、军事院校参观采访。2015年5月,“国防部发布”官方微博微信正式开通,关注人数已达600余万。

 推动构建地区安全合作架构

2001年6月,中国同哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、俄罗斯、塔吉克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦共同发起成立上海合作组织。上海合作组织已成为世界上幅员最广、人口最多的综合性新型区域合作组织,形成互信、互利、平等、协商、尊重多样文明、谋求共同发展的“上海精神”,推动构建上海合作组织命运共同体,推动建设新型国际关系,为地区和平与发展作出了新贡献。2017年6月,上海合作组织首次扩员,印度和巴基斯坦成为上海合作组织成员国。2018年4月,举行上海合作组织扩员后首次国防部长会议。上海合作组织成员国持续加强防务安全领域交流合作,举行“和平使命”系列演习,举办“和平号角”军乐节,深化睦邻友好和战略互信,加强军事文化交流,增进成员国团结友谊。

中国积极支持亚洲相互协作与信任措施会议机制建设,倡导树立共同、综合、合作、可持续的亚洲安全观,为构建亚洲地区安全合作架构发挥了重要作用。

中国本着开放包容、务实合作的原则,积极参加东盟防长扩大会、东盟地区论坛、香格里拉对话会、雅加达国际防务对话会、西太平洋海军论坛等多边对话和合作机制,常态化举行中国-东盟防长非正式会晤,建设性提出加强地区防务安全合作的倡议。2018年10月,举行中国-东盟“海上联演-2018”演习,这是中国军队与东盟国家军队首次举行海上演习,彰显了中国同东盟国家致力于维护地区和平稳定的信心和决心。

中国秉持平等、开放、包容、互鉴的精神,搭建北京香山论坛交流平台。2014年,香山论坛升级为“一轨半”国际安全和防务对话平台。2018年10月,香山论坛更名为北京香山论坛,来自67个国家和7个国际组织的500余名代表参加论坛,共同探讨应对地区安全威胁和挑战的新思路新途径,为促进亚太地区安全对话和互信合作发挥了积极作用。

  妥善处理领土问题和海洋划界争端

中国秉持亲诚惠容的周边外交理念,坚持与邻为善、以邻为伴,通过谈判协商和平解决领土问题和海洋划界争端。中国已经同14个陆上邻国中的12个国家解决了陆地边界问题,同周边8个国家签署睦邻友好合作条约。

中国把管控分歧、增进互信作为维护周边稳定的重要内容,倡议建立中国-东盟防长热线,同越南、韩国分别建立国防部直通电话,定期或不定期同陆地接壤国家军队开展电话传真联系、边境会谈会晤、联合巡逻等。2014年以来,中国同越南先后举行5次边境高层会晤。中印两军落实两国领导人重要共识,开展高层访问沟通,推动建立边防热线电话和边境管控、边防交流机制。2016年下半年以来,中国同菲律宾加强海上安全对话,双方重回通过友好协商处理南海问题的正确轨道。2018年5月,中日两国防务部门签署海空联络机制备忘录并于6月启动运行该机制。

中国同东盟国家全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》,积极推进“南海行为准则”磋商,加强海上安全务实合作,推进地区安全机制建设,努力将南海打造成为和平之海、友谊之海、合作之海。

  积极提供国际公共安全产品

中国积极支持联合国维和行动,是联合国维和行动的主要出资国之一,是安理会常任理事国中第一大出兵国。截至2018年12月,中国军队已累计参加24项联合国维和行动,派出维和军事人员3.9万余人次,13名中国军人牺牲在维和一线。中国军队在维和任务区新建、修复道路1.3万余千米,排除地雷及各类未爆物10342枚;运送物资135万余吨,运输总里程1300万余千米;接诊病人17万余人次;完成武装护卫、长短途巡逻等任务300余次。

2015年9月,中国加入新的联合国维和能力待命机制,建设8000人规模维和待命部队。2017年9月,中国完成维和待命部队在联合国的一级待命注册工作。2018年10月,13支一级待命分队全部高标准通过联合国组织的考核评估,晋升至二级待命状态。2019年2月,联合国将上述13支二级待命状态分队中的5支分队提升至三级待命状态。中国积极为各国培训维和人员,目前已经为数十个国家培训了1500余名维和人员。2018年12月,2506名中国官兵在联合国7个任务区及联合国维和行动部执行任务。

根据联合国安理会有关决议,中国政府于2008年12月起派遣海军舰艇编队赴亚丁湾、索马里海域实施常态化护航行动,与多国护航力量进行合作,共同维护国际海上通道安全。10年来,中国海军常态部署3至4艘舰艇执行护航任务,共派出31批100余艘次舰艇、2.6万余名官兵,为6600余艘中外船舶提供安全保护,解救、接护、救助遇险船舶70余艘。

中国军队积极参加国际灾难救援和人道主义援助,派遣专业救援力量赴受灾国救援减灾,提供救援物资和医疗救助,加强救援减灾国际交流。2012年以来,组织或参加马航MH370失联航班搜救、菲律宾“海燕”台风救援、抗击西非埃博拉疫情、马尔代夫水荒救援、尼泊尔抗震救灾、老挝水灾溃坝救援等多项行动。中国海军“和平方舟”号医院船服役10年来,执行7次“和谐使命”任务,共访问43个国家,为到访国民众提供医疗服务,组织医学交流,惠及民众23万余人次。

中国积极开展国际和地区反恐合作。加强上海合作组织框架内的国际反恐合作,组织开展反恐联合演习,打击非法贩运武器、弹药和爆炸物品,合作查明和切断人员渗透渠道,推动国际反恐情报交流共享。主办以反恐为主题的“长城”国际论坛,积极参与亚太经合组织反恐工作组、全球反恐论坛等多边反恐机制。同有关国家举行双边反恐磋商。推动创建阿富汗、中国、巴基斯坦、塔吉克斯坦四国军队反恐合作协调机制,举行两届军队高级领导人会议,开展反恐交流合作,积极维护地区安全。

结束语

和平是各国人民的共同愿望,发展是人类社会的永恒主题。面对日益复杂的全球性安全挑战,面对人类发展在十字路口何去何从的抉择,中国坚信,称霸扩张终将失败,安全繁荣应该共享。中国将坚持走和平发展道路,同各国人民一道维护世界和平、促进共同发展。

新时代的中国国防,在习近平强军思想指引下,将沿着中国特色强军之路,向着全面建成世界一流军队的宏伟目标奋勇前进。中国军队有决心有信心有能力战胜一切威胁挑战,为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦提供坚强战略支撑,为服务构建人类命运共同体作出新的更大贡献。