Thank you, Dr. Chipman.

 

 

 

 

Asia-Pacific is the beautiful home of all the participating countries at this Dialogue, and the most dynamic region in the world. We are encouraged to see that, peace, development and cooperation are the mainstream in the region. International relations in the region are generally stable. Regional cooperation continues to deepen. Economic cooperation and trade is more active than before. Multiple cultures prosper side by side. Security dialogues are increasingly pragmatic. To maintain peace, avoid confrontation and promote development have become shared goals of Asia-Pacific countries.

 

Such a favorable situation attributes to the following factors:

 

a. Asia-Pacific countries mutually respect the right of others to independently choose their political model, and manage to maintain internal harmony and stability.

 

b. Asia-Pacific countries actively promote liberalization of trade and investment, and make efforts to shape a fair and square, rational and open international trade environment.

 

c. In order to maintain the shared interests, and in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation, Asia-Pacific countries tend to settle frictions and disputes peacefully.

 

d. Asia-Pacific countries cooperate to cope with challenges and risks, and to maintain a stable, secure environment for common prosperity.

 

Regional security also faces threats. Traditional disputes over territorial and maritime rights and interests, ethnic and religious clashes are yet to be addressed fairly; terrorism, secessionism, and extremism remain grave threats; and as the situation changes, the hot-spot issues make new developments. At the same time, strategic mutual confidence, regional security dialogue and cooperation mechanism is comparatively fragile, and the regional capability to jointly withstand traditional and non-traditional security risks is limited. All these are testing the wisdom of the politicians and strategists.

 

 

China is different from the rising powers in the history, as it chooses the path of peaceful development. The soul of the policy is that China strives for a peaceful international environment to develop; and at the same time, develops itself to better contribute to world peace. Peaceful development is not a makeshift, but a serious choice and pledge of the Chinese government and people.

 

China all along adheres to a defense policy which is defensive in nature. The fundamentals of the policy are:

-to maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure the nation prosper in a peaceful environment;

-to perform homeland defense and resist foreign invasion;

-to moderately enhance defense capabilities, to deal with the multiple security threats, cope with crisis, maintain peace, deter, and if necessary, win the war.

 

The Chinese defense policy is characterized as the following:

 

First, it is for self-defense. Strategically, we adhere to defense, self-defense, and would “win by striking only after the enemy has struck”. We shall never fire the “first shot”. Such an approach is consistent with the ancient Chinese thought, to “use caution before getting into a war”; “use force only for a just cause”; “put people first” and “cherish life”.

 

Second, it aims for independent defense. We secure the country with our own capabilities, without joining any form of military alliance with any countries. We independently develop national defense industries and the defense science & technology sector. We independently handle military-to-military affairs, balancing national interests, regional interests and global interests.

 

Third, it is aimed to achieve limited military power. We always put national sovereignty and territorial integrity first, but not seek absolute military dominance. We are committed to developing a smaller but highly capable military force in a unique Chinese way, and to promoting all-round, balanced and sustainable defense and military development. We continue to embrace the long-standing nuclear policy of no-first-use; will not use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons against nuclear weapon free countries and zones.

 

Fourth, it is a peace policy. We make regional and world peace one of the objectives of the Chinese defense policy, and handle military-to-military relations in light of the principles of mutual respect, equal consultation, mutual benefit, reciprocity, cooperation and win-win. We would seek common ground while shelving differences, and promote harmony and amity will all countries. We are committed to developing non-alignment, non-confrontational mil-to-mil cooperation which does not direct against a third party.

 

 

The development of China is impossible without a prosperous and stable Asia-Pacific region; and Asia-Pacific prosperity and stability need a developing China. China wants to build good-neighborly relationships and partnerships with its neighbors, maintain peace and security, facilitate dialogue and cooperation, and advocate harmony and common prosperity.

 

──First, China is actively involved in regional security dialogue and cooperation. China facilitates the deepening and expansion of pragmatic cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members in political, economic, security, cultural and other fields. China values ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). We initiated the ARF Security Policy Conference; co-sponsored the seminars on non-proliferation and international relief efforts, and proposed to enhance mutual confidence and cooperation with ASEAN. China also makes effort to strengthen China-Japan-ROK cooperation, and other cooperation within 10+3 and 10+1 frameworks. We have also launched dialogue with SAARC. Besides, China’s constructive work at the “6-party talks” makes sure that Korean nuclear issue is to be settled peacefully through dialogue.

 

──Second, China actively engages in exchange and cooperation in non-traditional security field. China participated in a number of regional humanitarian operations, and donated considerable amount of relief materials and funds as the tsunami and the major earthquake in South Asia happened. Many uniformed men and women joined the Chinese international relief teams to deliver assistance to the disaster-stricken countries.

 

──Third, China is committed to enhancing mutual confidence in the security field. The Chinese military force is increasing people-to-people contact, functional exchange and training cooperation with other militaries. We sponsored different forms of defense forums, and established security and defense consultations with the US, Russia, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, etc. We opened many military exercises to foreign military observers. Since 2002, China has participated in 16 bilateral or multilateral military exercises with 11 countries. China has issued several Defense White Papers, which well and truly update the international community with the Chinese national security strategy, nuclear strategy, service development strategy, etc., as well as the latest progress in defense and military modernization. The content of the White Papers is substantial and concrete, which underpins our sincere wish to achieve greater openness.

 

Here, I would comment on the suspicion over the Chinese “military transparency” and defense budget. Regarding the defense budget, I have 3 comments to offer: First, in China, defense budgeting follows a set of highly strict legal procedures, and the published defense budget is true and authentic. Second, the increased proportion of the budget is mostly used to make up the retail price rise, improve welfare of the military personnel, and for better logistic support. Third, given the multiple security threats we face, the geo-political environment, the size of the territory, and the per-capita expense, the Chinese defense expenditure is fairly small by all judgments.

 

Regarding “military transparency”, I think that due to differences in history, culture, social system and ideology, countries naturally disagree on what “transparency” means and how to achieve it. In philosophical analysis, nothing is absolute. “Transparency” is a relative concept, too. More importantly, the growth of a country’s military power is a dynamic process full of changeable factors, which is difficult to be evaluated precisely, so that it takes time to achieve transparency. Anyhow, it is obvious to all that China is gradually making progress in “military transparency”, in light of the principles of trust, responsibility, security and equality.

 

 

At the APEC summit meeting last year, Chinese President Hu Jin-tao, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, appealed to “build a harmonious Asia-Pacific of lasting peace and common prosperity”. A harmonious Asia-Pacific is a region in which countries promote economic growth and social progress in a coordinated manner, narrow the North-South gap to achieve common prosperity; deepen pragmatic cooperation to jointly cope with new threats and challenges, and work towards common security; promote dialogue among cultures and religious beliefs, and among different social systems and development modes, in order to achieve common development. To that end, I have 3 propositions:

 

First, further mutual confidence on the strategic level. Mutual confidence is the basis of cooperation. Asia-Pacific countries share the mission to promote development and maintain peace, and have many interests in common. We propose countries manage international relations from the perspective of maintaining lasting peace, prosperity and development, enhance mutual understanding through increased exchange and communication, expand common ground and reduce suspicion, so as to nurture an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust. When countries disagree or have problems, they should try to diminish suspicion and build confidence through bilateral or multilateral dialogue; reduce disputes through friendly talks; and settle problems through equal consultation.

 

Second, adhere to open multilateralism. Diversity is a notable feature of the Asia-Pacific. Countries in the region vary in history and culture, and in the phase, approach, and model of economic development. Given this, we propose countries demonstrate the spirit of openness and accommodation, support the existing regional and sub-regional cooperation programs to advance, and strive for an open, inclusive Asia-Pacific cooperation framework in which all countries benefit from reciprocity.

 

Third, further strengthen security cooperation. It is hard for any country to stand up to the multiple traditional and non-traditional threats alone. Joint efforts and cooperation are the only solution. We expect that countries in the region, in the spirit of consensus, gradual progress, and willingness, push forward regional security cooperation, gradually establish and perfect regional security mechanisms, and cooperate to counter-terror, in peace missions and relief operations. We propose countries strengthen information-sharing and intelligence cooperation; establish an early warning system for crisis and emergencies; enhance coordination and cooperation among functional organizations; facilitate visits, academic exchange, joint training and exercises among the military forces, so as to enhance mutual understanding and trust, and strengthen the capabilities to jointly deal with new threats and challenges.

 

Peace is a pre-condition of Asia-Pacific development, a fundamental interest of the people in this region, a lofty ideal of the human society, and therefore the ultimate pursuit of all of us in uniform. As long as Asia-Pacific countries are committed to better welfare of their peoples, committed to regional peace and development, we will be able to bring lasting peace and common prosperity to the region. China has every confidence to make this dream come true.

 

Thank you and I welcome your questions.