Armed forces guarantee 'Chinese Dream'

BEIJING - China's new strategy put forth in its latest national defense white paper is a corresponding measure to deal with the changing security situation it faces and will safeguard the realization of the "Chinese Dream."

The white paper, the eighth of its kind to be issued since 1998, works to explain why the world's largest armed forces are increasingly commissioning military operations in times of peace.

The Asia-Pacific region has become an increasingly significant stage for world economic development and strategic interactions between major powers. The United States is adjusting its security strategy in the region and the regional landscape is undergoing profound changes.

On issues concerning China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighboring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, according to the white paper.

At the same time, China's social development and its place as the world's second-largest economy have been frequently overshadowed by natural disasters, terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as unsafe overseas assets and personnel.

The white paper's new assessment and analysis of the global security situation, as well as interior and exterior security environments that China faces, explains threats facing China in a straightforward and direct way.

For both its own security and regional stability, China has thousands of reasons to employ its armed forces where the country's national interests reach and need.

Diversified threats have warranted the missions that China's armed forces will carry out. Based on those changes and the new situation China faces, it put forward the thought of the diversified employment of the armed forces, in a bid to better safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and development interests.

The new thought is a guarantee for the realization of the "Chinese Dream," the ambition that Chinese President Xi Jinping has interpreted as the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

When speaking to PLA officers in Guangzhou in December, Xi said achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is China's greatest dream in modern times.

The dream is to build a powerful country. In regards to the military, it could be a dream of building stronger armed forces, said Xi, adding that a strong national defense and a powerful military are necessary in the course of building a prosperous country.

The defensive nature of China's national defense strategy has not changed, but China will not trade its sovereignty and interests for peace.

As the white paper says, "We will not attack unless we are attacked, but we will surely counterattack, if attacked."