SCIO briefing on China's national defense
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 25, 2019
Wenhui Po:
I noticed that the Fifth Chapter of the White Paper covers China's defense expenditure. At the conclusion on Page 42, it states: "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." Can you elaborate on this? Thank you.
Wang Taiguo:
In the new era, to meet the strategic demands of national security and development, the armed forces are required to firmly implement the missions and tasks entrusted by the CPC and the Chinese people. They are endeavoring 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.
However, 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.
Nowadays, with increasing global issues and challenges, as well as the development of China and its armed forces, the international community has higher expectations in regard to the international public security goods provided by the Chinese military. Therefore, our armed forces will spend more in fulfilling their international responsibilities and obligations as well as in participating in peacekeeping operations, vessel protection operations and disaster relief.
At the same time, the armed forces are moving towards coping with the demands of the current informationization era, and shouldering arduous tasks in adapting to trends in worldwide RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) and speeding up RMA with Chinese characteristics.
Therefore, there is still a wide gap between China's defense expenditure and the requirements for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, fulfilling our international responsibilities and obligations as a major country, and for the overall development of the country. China's defense expenditure will keep step with national economic development and maintain moderate and steady growth.
The China Times:
Page 15 of the white paper mentioned "sailing ships and flying aircraft around Taiwan." We know that we are six months away from the 2020 leadership election in Taiwan next year. During that time, will the PLA increase the frequency of warships and aircraft sailing around the island? Some opinions in Taiwan believe that the greater the movement of the People's Liberation Army, the more it will mean that the mainland will suppress and threaten Taiwan -- which will help the Democratic Progressive Party candidates gain popularity in their elections. What is your comment on that? In addition, the mainland's Ministry of National Defense recently put out news during Tsai Ing-wen's foreign visits, saying that the PLA held a routine military exercise on the southeast coast. The Global Times also quoted sources familiar with the matter and said that five military service branches were involved in the joint exercise, which would form a deterrent force for Taiwan. Please tell us about the exercise.
Wu Qian:
Indeed, as you said, many references about Taiwan in the white paper show that the Taiwan issue is of vital importance to China's core interests. We believe that the mainland and Taiwan share natural kinship, and that blood is thicker than the water. We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and best efforts. However, we must resolutely point out that engaging in "Taiwan independence" is a dead end. If anyone dares to try to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese army will certainly not hesitate to fight and resolutely defend the sovereign and territorial integrity of the country.
Regarding the second question about the exercise on the southeast coast, the Ministry of National Defense has released information on this issue, and I have nothing to add here.
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