CHINA: A Dynamic Military Defense Strategy for a New Age
Today, the world is in the midst of a large transformation and restructuring though peace and development are still the main issues of the times. The circumstances of international security have generally been kept stable, but indeterminate causes of instability are increasing. New challenges and new threats are continuously appearing. Traditional and non-traditional security issues have become intertwined. Security threats are increasingly synthesized, diversified, and complex.
At present, China’s security environment is generally positive, with no existing realistic threat of large-scale foreign invasion. However, China’s security environment faces some difficult challenges. These include: the vicious development of the power of the “Taiwan Independence” movement, new changes in armed forces that have led to large differences in the levels of military technology, the risks and challenges brought by the trend towards economic globalization and development, long-term unipolar and multi-polar conflicts, the external and internal interconnected relationship of ‘the three powers’ (translator’s note: ‘the three powers’ refers to separatism, terrorism, and extremism), the increasingly prominent issue of energy security and disputes over rights and interests at sea, as well as the continuous increase of other social factors that could affect stability. All of these things have a very large influence on China’s security.
Having not yet fully unified, China’s task of opposing independence and promoting unification is formidable. The Taiwan issue involves China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China’s central interest. Resolutely opposing and preventing any actions towards Taiwan’s legal independence is the most important and pressing task related to China’s security.
As a large developing country, the development of economic, social and ecological security issues is relatively prominent. For a huge country of more than 1.3 billion people, the ongoing construction of a modern state is unprecedented. The world has rarely, if ever, witnessed the transformation of a society and economy at such a fast rate and with such a wide scope, accompanied by so many complex issues. The market economy has still not been perfected, and reforms and developments have reached their most critical period. The degree to which the economy relies on foreign factors has increased substantially. The threat of terrorism, separatism, and extremism to the security of border areas is becomingly increasingly clear. As for the armed forces and the political branch, the traditional core security threats still exist: economic security, information security, energy security, the security of strategic sea channels, the security of the public environment, along with terrorism and other non-traditional threats which are continuously increasing.
In order to adapt to the changes in the international strategic structure and national security environment, China has formulated a dynamic defense strategy for its armed forces in a new age. The most important content is listed below:
First, rely on the ability to win information-based localized conflicts. The most important conflict facing the construction of the Chinese military is that the level of modernization has not been adaptable to the requirements of winning information-based localized conflicts. However, the PLA has adapted to trends in the development of the world’s militaries, and has worked towards modern informationalization. Specifically, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has pushed forward the compound development of mechanization and informationalization, and progressively transformed mechanization and semi-mechanization into informationalization. They have also entirely upgraded military firepower, sudden attack abilities, mobile abilities, defensive abilities, and informational abilities. In addition, China formulated a three-step development strategy for constructing a modern national defense and military including the following: by 2010, have a solid foundation laid. By around 2020, accomplish relatively large development. By the middle of the 21st century, construct an information-based military with the ability to win and achieve strategic goals.
Second, emphasize containing eruptions of conflicts and wars. In order to protect the important strategic circumstances necessary for national development and to protect all national interests, the PLA insists that military struggles and political, economic, and diplomatic struggles should be closely coordinated, thus synthesizing the use of all different means and strategies and restraining the eruption of conflicts and wars. The Chinese strategic environment is very complex. The most important strategic directions as well as secondary directions all depend on the realistic probability of crises and conflicts happening. Military strategy first must take the initiative in preventing and dissolving crises by resolutely deterring and stopping the eruption and escalation of crises. China has always pursued a policy of no nuclear first-attacks and will persist in its nuclear policy of self-defense. This policy’s basic goal is to restrict other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China. Also, China will not enter into a nuclear arms race with any country.
Third, improve joint operation abilities and ‘diversified military operations’ abilities. In order to adapt to the system of modern warfare and the requirements of systemic confrontations as well as replying to a variety of security threats, the PLA’s joint operations will serve as the fundamental form of warfare, the military’s deterrence and combat abilities will be improved, and non-warfare operational abilities will be promptly brought to competence. For this new global period, the PLA will not only react to traditional security issues, but also react to non-traditional security issues. Not only will it protect the security of the national territory, it will also protect security interests abroad. Not only will it protect the stability of national development, it will also protect the development of world peace. To this end, the different branches of the armed forces are all experiencing a large transformation. The army is transforming from defending certain areas to complete flexibility and mobility wherever necessary. The navy is transforming from defending near-coastlines to defending the near-seas. The air force is transforming from defending national airspace to both attack and defense. Finally, the second artillery strategy will improve the power of both nuclear and conventional systems.
Fourth, push forward “uniquely Chinese” military transformations. In order to meet the challenges presented by changes in military affairs in a new world, the PLA will do the following: implement and establish a quality military and a scientifically and technologically strong military strategy. Improve weapons and equipment and take the initiative in using science and technology to create new defense abilities. Develop training for military affairs in informational conditions, and develop high-quality talented people for the new shape of military affairs. The PLA, while undergoing transformative and innovative development, will persist in pushing forward the following: the creation of new systems of military organization and new forms of military management. Change and revise military organization and establishment and policy institutions. Implement a unified system regarding the speed, quality, and productivity of military developments. In the twenty years from 1985 to 2005, the PLA underwent three large-scale disarmaments with a total reduction of 1.7 million troops. The current military has been kept at 2.3 million troops. The PLA has focused on simplifying the army, decreasing the outdated and lagging technology in the general force, and strengthening the navy, air force, and second artillery construction.
Fifth, develop ‘people’s warfare’ strategy and tactics. Depending on the masses for construction and solidifying national defense is where China’s real superiority and strength lie. Facing new changes in modern warfare, China persists in implementing a specially trained standing army joined in strength by a powerful national reserve, with a high level of emphasis on building a prepared reserve and people’s militia. According to the policy of manufacturing for both peacetime and wartime, the policy for the integration of the military and the people, and the policy of soldiers working among the people during times of peace, a highly effective national defense mobilization mechanism is being strengthened and unified. New military tactics are being created with the conditions necessary for the modern masses to take part in warfare, maximizing the power of ‘people’s warfare.’ Militias are an important part of China’s armed forces, currently containing 10 million core militiamen. At present, the structure and organization of China’s militias is being adjusted from an emphasis on infantrymen to an emphasis on professional, technologically skilled troops, especially for air defense forces, army squads, and emergency response squads.
Sixth, construct a security environment conducive for peaceful national development. The PLA implements strategy for peaceful national development as well as foreign policy for non-aligned development, non-confrontational development, and opposing cooperative relationships that are aimed at third parties, while also opposing hegemonism and power politics. Also, the PLA will develop military exchanges and cooperation, create mutually beneficial security environments, and work together to prevent conflicts and wars. Also, in order to protect the world, and peace and stability in regions around the world, the PLA will energetically and effectively do the following: take part in UN peace keeping missions, cooperate internationally to oppose terrorism, and take part in disaster relief missions. Since 2002, China has, together with 11 nations and territorial organizations, taken part 18 times in unified military exercises. Since 1990, China has taken part in 18 UN peace-keeping missions, dispatching a total of more than 9,000 troops. Nine troops sacrificed their lives in the service of these missions. Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has already become the greatest supplier of peace-keeping troops, with 1,700 troops from China currently taking part in peace-keeping missions. China also dispatched personnel for the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, as well as to Algeria, Iran, Indonesia, for the earthquake in Pakistan, and for other international assistance missions.
In its historic new age, as it actively implements its national defense and military strategy, China must follow the following four principles.
First, counter-attack. The central content of China’s self-defense defense policy is the strategy of counterattacking. During the revolutionary war period, a strategy of national defense and counterattacking was formed with an emphasis on focusing on the enemy’s strengths and China’s weaknesses. After the establishment of the new China, the strategy was still defensive and counterattacking due to decisions concerning the national character, national operations, and foreign policy. These strategies were closely connected with China’s cultural tradition of valuing peace, and the fact that in its recent history, China suffered a series of invasions by great powers. China has consistently advocated the use of nonmilitary means for resolving conflicts, dealing with conflicts cautiously, and a policy of strategic counterattacks. Mao Zedong clearly stated, “China’s military strategy is one of vigorous defense, and absolutely no first attacks.” Deng Xiaoping also emphasized that, “our strategy is always defensive, and even after our future modernization, it will still be a strategy of defense. Therefore, no matter if there are any changes in environments, interests, and strength, China’s military strategy will always be defensive. In military affairs, our position of self-defense will be adhered to closely, with absolutely no first attacks, and absolutely no foreign invasions to expand influence or hegemonic superiority. Of course, counterattacks are not feeble or incapable, but express the position, ‘if you don’t come after me, I won’t come after you, but if you do come after me, I must come after you.’”
Second, follow the general situation. At the end of the 1970’s, China’s national strategy underwent a large transformation including a commitment to upholding the national interest as the highest standard when dealing with problems, formulating policy, and not drawing lines using ideology or social systems. Protecting the national interest was the basic foundation for formulating military strategy. In the white paper entitled “China’s National Defense, 2002,” five basic national interests were summarized. These were: protect national sovereignty, unity, territory and security; continue focusing on economic development and continuously improve national strength; continue perfecting socialist systems; keep and promote social security and unity; strive for a long-term, peaceful international environment and a favorable peripheral environment. Along with global progress and national development, China’s security interests and developmental interests are intertwined. The central interest has changed from survival to development. Military strategy must expand its view from planning for the general national interest and guiding military affairs to include focusing on national development while following and serving an overall national development strategy. Military preparation, all military construction, and important military actions should all be viewed and planned from the perspective of strategic opportunities for protecting national interests and protecting the general national interest.
Third, flexibility and mobility. Persisting with flexible and mobile strategic tactics is the essence of a dynamic military strategy. In order to implement a dynamic defense, flexibility and mobility are definitely needed. The goal of flexibility is ‘to lead and not be led.’ The strategy guides us to not only to continue our strategic defense and counterattacking, but also place importance on carrying out active offensives and decisively subduing the enemy in military campaigns and battles. Not only to prepare for lasting operations, but to work even harder for fast responses in military operations, quick decisions for quick battles, especially for dealing with the conditions of narrow informational conflicts. When possessing the conditions for quick strategic decisions, quick strategic decisions should be strived for. Not only resolving how to prepare to fight and how to fight, but also resolving how to effectively control fighting, as well as avoiding and limiting fighting. Not only actively preparing for military affairs, but also upholding the close cooperation between military methods and the nation’s politics, diplomacy, and economy. The modern state of war is complicated, and can change greatly in an instant. So, it is even more necessary to maintain the strategic directives of taking initiative, flexibility and planning, abundant preparation, entering wars cautiously, rationality, beneficiality, efficient actions, flexibly using military strength and alternating tactics when striving to take initiative in battle.
Fourth, open cooperation. China has already established a national strategy of peaceful development. As the PLA persists in its dynamic defense strategy, it must keep in mind the implementation and protection of the national strategy of peaceful development. As the Chinese economy increasingly melds with the global economic system, China and the world have reached an unprecedented level of closeness and interconnectedness. China must not and cannot once again go down the path of colonialism, imperial expansionism, or military aggression, and can only continue along the path of peaceful development. China must struggle for a peaceful international environment in order to develop itself while using this same development to protect world peace. The PLA is an army with an 81-year history, and will increasingly take initiative and add openness as it gravitates towards the outside world. This is in order to increase trust and reduce doubt while learning from past experience. Even more, this is in order to effectively protect world peace and promote common development. We do not at all hide the strategic intent and determination to construct a powerful and modern national defense. At the same time, we solemnly pledge to the world that: China will always pursue a defensive national policy. China’s military modernization is based on the need for national security and beneficial development, and will not threaten any countries. At the same time as the Chinese military assumes the heavy responsibility of protecting national sovereignty, it will also make a greater contribution to protecting world peace and stability.
Original article (in Chinese): http://www.china.com.cn/xxsb/txt/2008-03/18/content_12996594.htm