A holistic view of national security

A holistic view of national security

At the first meeting of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee in April 2014, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to take a holistic view of national security. Through this approach, a full spectrum of security issues are assessed, ranging from personal security, which is the ultimate concern, and political security, which is of overarching importance, to economic security, which underpins all other considerations. Military, cultural and social perspectives reinforce efforts in other areas, and the promotion of international security provides support for measures taken in a national context. Following this line of thinking we are setting out to build a national security system with Chinese characteristics.

The Party's 19th National Congress, in October 2017, confirmed that "pursuing a holistic approach to national security" is a basic policy that underpins the Party's endeavors to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The Congress report declared, "We must put national interests first, take protecting our people's security as our mission and safeguarding political security as a fundamental task, and ensure both internal and external security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and China's own and common security. We will improve our systems and institutions and enhance capacity-building for national security, and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests." This holistic approach symbolizes the CPC's deeper understanding of national security, and is a powerful theoretical instrument to guide related work in the new era.

坚持总体国家安全观

2014年4月，在中央国家安全委员会第一次会议上，习近平总书记提出，必须坚持总体国家安全观，以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本，以经济安全为基础，以军事、文化、社会安全为保障，以促进国际安全为依托，走出一条中国特色国家安全道路。2017年10月，党的十九大将坚持总体国家安全观纳入新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的基本方略，明确提出必须坚持国家利益至上，以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本，统筹外部安全和内部安全、国土安全和国民安全、传统安全和非传统安全、自身安全和共同安全，完善国家安全制度体系，加强国家安全能力建设，坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。总体国家安全观的提出，标志着中国共产党对国家安全的认识提升到了新的高度和境界，是指导新时代国家安全工作的强大思想武器。