CRI听力:China Issues White Paper on Military Strategy

The some 9-thousand word paper has rolled out a roadmap for the Chinese army's active defense strategy.

Researcher with the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Wen Bing, who took part in drafting the paper, explains further.

"Compared with the previous documents, this year's white paper offers a comprehensive interpretation of the country's guiding principles for a military strategy. Particularly, the paper indicates the strategic guidance should shift from efforts to contain crises and wars to efforts to establish a beneficial security posture. This indicates that the focus on military strategy is defense in an active state."

The white paper introduced China's national security situation, missions and development of armed forces, strategic guidelines of active defense, preparation for military mission, and military and security cooperation.

In addition, it marked the protection of overseas interests as a strategic task for the Chinese army.

Researcher Wen Bing says that this can be achieved by promoting international security cooperation in areas closely linked to overseas interests.

"For example, we could ensure the security of maritime strategy passage by carrying out joint escort missions with involved countries. In some investment concentration areas, we could maintain their stability and security through military operations, such as holding joint military exercises, and participating in international rescue operations."

The paper has also put forward four critical security domains for the first time, which includes maritime, outer space, cyberspace and nuclear capabilities.

The document says the country's naval forces should be more capable to conduct missions on the open seas.

Researcher Wen Bing believes this is in line with the extension of China's national interests and the development of naval capabilities.

"The PLA Navy will gradually shift its strategy of offshore waters defense to a combination of offshore waters defense and open seas protection. This is not an invasion or an identification of sphere of influence. This is a way to safeguard our own interests and the security interests of the international community."

The document says China aims to enhance the development of its cyber force to deal with "grave security threats".

It also promises to preserve space assets and opposes a space arms race.

Moreover, the white paper also reiterates that China will never join any nuclear arms races.

For CRI, this is Huang Shan.