As delivered - provisional transcript
Thank you Dr Chipman! Honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen: Firstly, as a representative of the disaster-hit country, I would like to express my condolence to the huge loss of lives and properties in Wenchuan earthquake and Myanmar cyclone. At the same time I would like to express my appreciation to the international community for their condolence and their disaster relief support on China. I would also thank the government of Singapore and the Institute of International and Strategic Studies for giving me this opportunity to exchange ideas with you all on issues of common interest.
Today, there is a grand backdrop of world’s irreversible multipolarization, deepening economic globalization and robust regional cooperation, China’s future and destiny has grown closely associated with the future and destiny of the world. While facing the overly complicated and complex international and regional situation, intertwined past and present disputes, traditional security threat combined with the increasingly conspicuous non-traditional security threat, China has maintained to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation and unswervingly adhere to the path of peaceful development.
It has been the strategic choice made by the Chinese government and the Chinese people in accordance with the trends of the era and the fundamental interests of the country. This is also our solemn pledge to the international community. History tells us that if we wish to survive and create better lives in peace we must rely on ourselves for sufficient defence capabilities. To strengthen defence capability is the fundamental guarantee to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China land border of is 22,800 kilometre long, the coastline of the mainland and the islands is approximately 32,000 kilometre long in total and the total maritime area is 4.7 million square kilometres. To maintain territorial integrity and protect maritime interests we have a profound responsibility. At present, there have been positive changes in the situation in Taiwan, which leads to a good momentum of development in cross-strait relations.
However, at the same time, separatist forces for an independent Taiwan will continue to impose separation movements. The serious mental impact of an independent Taiwan still affects the Taiwanese society. The mission of opposing and curbing separatist movements remains tough. To strengthen defence capability is the necessary requirement to effectively respond to multiple security threats. There has been an increase in rampant international terrorism in the last few years which has greatly undermined international and regional security.
Under the circumstance, activities of terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism within China’s territory have further intensified, and it seriously threatens the harmony and stability of the society. With growing world economic integration and soaring volume of annual import and export trade,the situation does not appear optimistic on combating piracy and safeguarding sea lines of communication. We need to improve our capabilities for diversified military operations in accordance to the changes in security threats. Strengthening defence development is the objective requirement for keeping in pace with world’s trend in military development.
Since the 90s, many countries have accelerated military development that was mainly characterized by informatisation. The renovation of military theories, research and development of high-tech weapons and equipment, adjustment of military structure and staffing stirred new tide of world’s revolution in military affairs. In this revolutionary change, China’s military force must keep up with the tide of world military development It is imperative for China’s armed forces to keep up with this tide of world’s military development. What needed to be pointed out is China’s defence development and economic growth is harmonious to each other. Defence expenditure has been consistently within the limit of affordability.
The nation’s growing economy and fiscal revenue has given rise a logical demand of an increased defence budget in reality. However compare to increase in other sectors, the increase in defence budget is limited and moderate. In terms of the input and share of defence expenditure, daily expenses of staff, training costs, expenditure on equipment purchases and maintenance account for one third respectively. China spends two third of her defence expenditure on maintenance such as living cost and training etc.
Compare with the advanced nations, China’s defence expenditure, whether it is the actual total or GDP proportion, is still at a low level. China is a peace-loving country and the Chinese people are peace-loving people. Despite the changes in the international situation, China would always adopt a defensive defence policy. We will not enter the arms race and we will not be a military threat to any country. We will never seek hegemony or expansion.
Ladies and gentlemen, Asia Pacific is the most dynamic region in the world. The world’s stability and growth is reliant on peace and prosperity in the region. The current security situation in the region is on the whole, in a good shape. Within diversity relative tranquillity and peace is achieved. The current security situation in this region is generally in a good shape. Relative peace and tranquillity is achieved while diversity is also preserved.
The key is that all countries have been actively cultivating the security concept based on mutual respect and equality. They have been striving to build and develop equal, positive and stable state-to-state relations, and we have reasons to be optimistic about it. Peace, development and cooperation are the mainstream. The relations between key powers have been constantly improving. Friendly exchanges between nations are widened and deepened.
This, in particular, has given rise to extensive and multifaceted defence engagement and cooperation. Defence negotiation and security dialogues have promoted mutual understanding and strategic trust building. Joint exercises and training have promoted practical exchanges and cooperation among the military forces and raise their interoperable capabilities in response to new challenges and threats.
Regional hot spots tend to cool down. Seeking common interests and resolving differences peacefully are widely sought for. Instabilities and uncertainties that cause regional tension have been dropping. Owing to the joint efforts made by all parties, the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue in Korea are making positive progress. The regional security mechanisms of Asia-Pacific are steadily making progress. The region is forming tiered and comprehensive security cooperation mechanisms.
The ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN with China, Japan and South Korea (10+3), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization etc are playing positive roles in maintaining regional peace and stability. At the same time, we must be aware of some security challenges the Asia-Pacific region still faces. Traditional territorial and maritime disputes are still not properly resolved.
Ethnic and religious disputes have lead to regional tension and confrontation. The threat of the three forces remains severe. What raised the most concerns are the expansion of military alliance, development and expansion of missile defence system, space weaponization and nuclear proliferation etc which exacerbates instability regionally and even internationally and upsets the equilibrium and balance of the regional power.
Peace is a product of parity, a balance of power and offensive and defensive strength. We urge universal security of the international community. We oppose any actions which sacrifice peace of other countries to achieve security in the others, including the expansion of military alliance. The security interests and concerns of all countries must be completely respected and catered for. To build and deploy missile defence system and to participate in missile defence partnership in some areas in the world is detrimental to strategic balance, confidence building and regional stability.
The outer space belongs to the whole mankind and we should utilize the outer space in a peaceful manner. We oppose to outer space weaponization and outer space arms race. Within the framework of the international law, we should proactively facilitate international military control agenda and through political and diplomatic means to solve problems arising from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery channels in aim to promote national security.
Ladies and gentlemen, recently the Asia-Pacific region was struck by natural disasters such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in the US, massive earthquake in South Asia and the cyclone in Myanmar which caused a grave lost of lives and assets. Armed forces of many countries have taken active roles in responding to China’s natural disaster and they have actively participate in international relief operations. Their work has been significant to us. It has been proved that military powers can handle non-traditional security threats considerably. Therefore, exchange and cooperation between different military forces in this aspect are necessary.
I will briefly talk about the participation of China’s military force in the relief operation after this year’s massive natural disasters in China. Between the middle of January to early February this year, China’s southern part has encountered historically rare disaster of sleet and blizzard. China’s military forces sent 667,000 men times, 89,500 vehicle trips and 174 aircraft trips to the region. They cleared up a total of 32,000 kilometres of snow-topped roads, transported over 42,000 tons of relief materials and evacuated and relocated 7.217 million person times of stranded victims. The military also took on the full burden of repairing the power grid, treating injured people and regaining public order.
Just over 2 weeks ago, Wenchuan of Sichuan province was struck by a massive earthquake and the China government exercised its philosophy of ‘’people come first’’ and gave main priority to save peoples’ lives. President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other state and government leaders personally direct the relief operations in the disaster zone. After the class-1 national disaster response mechanism was in place, the military force took immediate actions based on the Regulations on Military Participation in Disaster Relief and relevant response plans. They put in place the 4-level disaster relief chain of command and identified 5 specific areas of responsibility. Military troop of more than 137,000 men were sent to engage in a full scale of relief operations.
Up until May 28, we have dispatched 3009 aircraft trips, 110,000 sets of equipment and deployed 207 medical, disease control and psychological emergency intervention teams. 3.248 million sets of clothes, 1.086 million pieces of first-aid medicines and 41,694 tents were supplied. A total of 106,000 tons of materials were acquired and transported. The military force monitored and cleared 41 dangerous incidents of quake lakes, pulled out 27,000 people alive from the debris, treated 313,000 wounded people, relocated 660,000 stranded residents and tourists and repaired over 4500 kilometres of roads. During the relief operations, officials and members of the China government was playing vital role in saving lives, comforting the public and recovering social order. In the aftermath of the Wenchuan earthquake, over 30 countries and international organizations have provided relief materials or sent professional rescue teams to China. Among these countries, the military forces and defence departments of some of them also offered disaster relief.
On behalf of China’s Military force, I’d like to express our deepest appreciation to the friendly support provided by the aforementioned governments and armed forces. It requires joint efforts to curb common threats. In recent years, China’s military force has been actively participating in contributing to the setting up of ASEAN Regional Forum Guidance on disaster relief. In addition to the ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) Armed Forces Workshop on Disaster Relief, another workshop will be held again in early or the middle June. By sending troops to join the China International Rescue Team, China’s military forces actively participate in international disaster relief missions of the government-level.
In the international rescue missions, the team has conducted search and rescue, medical treatment and disease control assignment in the aftermath of Indian Ocean Tsunami, Pakistan earthquake, Indonesia Yogyakarta earthquake etc. They also assisted the China government in providing humanitarian aid to 16 disaster-stricken countries. China’s military forces, on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and negotiation on equal footing, will step up exchanges between militaries of Asia-pacific countries. They will forge ahead with practical cooperation in anti-terrorism, peace-keeping, disaster relief, cross-border crimes and other areas. We will cooperate with other countries to maintain regional peace and stability. We are committed to put in assiduousefforts to build a harmonious Asia-Pacific region of lasting peace and shared prosperity.
Thank you!