China News Service, March 1 According to the Ministry of National Defense website, the Ministry of National Defense Information Bureau answered reporters' questions on recent hot issues related to the military.
The full text is as follows:
Question: We have noticed that the "Regulations on International Military Cooperation Work" recently issued by the Chinese military will come into effect on March 1, 2021.
Please introduce the significance of the "Regulations".
Answer: International military cooperation is important for achieving the party’s goal of strengthening the army in the new era, building the people’s army into a world-class army, effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, promoting international and regional peace and stability, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. significance.
The "Regulations on International Military Cooperation Work" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") is the first basic regulation of the People's Army in the field of international military cooperation in the new era, marking a new level of legalization and regularization of our military's international military cooperation in the new era. .
The "Regulations" adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, clarify the main tasks and cooperation areas of international military cooperation, and establish international military cooperation work planning and planning, risk management and control, work guarantees, and inspection and evaluation systems to standardize The procedures and methods for the organization and implementation of international military cooperation are provided to provide a strong guarantee for further enhancing the comprehensive benefits of international military cooperation in the new era and promoting the innovative development of international military cooperation.
Question: In recent years, there have been comments from the outside world that China has continuously strengthened its military construction, demonstrated its military strength to the outside world, and has become tougher and tougher in handling disputes with neighboring countries. This means that China's defensive national defense policy is changing.
What is your response to this?
Answer: China’s socialist nature, strategic decision-making on the path of peaceful development, independent foreign policy of peace, and the Chinese cultural tradition of “peace is the most precious” determine that China will unswervingly pursue a defensive national defense policy and insist on never seeking hegemony. Never expanding and never seeking spheres of influence are the distinctive features of China's national defense in the new era.
The Chinese military resolutely performs its duties and missions, resolutely defends sovereignty and security, persists in maintaining fairness and justice, and adheres to the bottom line of principles.
Since the founding of New China, we have never proactively provoked a war, and we have never invaded an inch of land in other countries.
We can't lose an inch of the territory left by our ancestors, and we don't want a single cent of other people's things.
The construction and development of China's national defense and military is entirely out of the need to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. It does not target any country or pose a threat to any country.
In recent years, the Chinese military has conducted exchanges and cooperation with the militaries of various countries, provided a wealth of international public security products, responded to common security threats and challenges, and made important contributions to maintaining world peace and stability and serving the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
History has and will continue to prove that the Chinese military has always been a staunch force for safeguarding world peace.
Question: We have noticed that the current COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading globally, and the Chinese military is actively carrying out international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic.
Please introduce the relevant situation.
A: Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, in order to implement the Chairman’s series of important instructions on international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic, the Chinese military has upheld the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and on the premise of vigorously doing a good job in the prevention and control of the domestic epidemic, it has provided the international community with what it can Support and help.
The leaders of the Military Commission communicated and talked with leaders of multiple defense departments and the military to discuss epidemic prevention and control issues.
As of February 2021, the Chinese military has provided anti-epidemic materials such as masks and ventilators to the military of 50 countries including Mozambique, Serbia, Cuba, and Laos, and provided vaccine assistance to the military of Pakistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, and the Philippines, and provided vaccine assistance to Cambodia and Pakistan. Four other countries sent medical expert teams to hold video conferences on epidemic prevention and control experience with the military and international organizations of 18 countries including Russia and Singapore.
The Chinese military will continue to work hand in hand with the militaries of other countries to fight the epidemic, deepen pragmatic cooperation in non-traditional security fields, and make new contributions to building a community of human health and maintaining world peace and stability.
Q: According to reports, the foreign ministers of China and Russia said during a phone call at the beginning of this month that the strategic cooperation between the two sides is all-round and all-weather, with no restricted areas or upper limits.
Recently, some scholars said that in the face of NATO's military threat, Russia may seek to establish a military alliance with China.
What's your comment on this?
Answer: The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era is a model of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation.
The two sides adhere to the principle of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third countries, which is completely different from the military alliance relationship between some countries.
The continued high-level operation of Sino-Russian military relations is an important indicator of the high level and particularity of the relations between the two countries, and is a bright spot and important support for strategic cooperation.
2021 is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. China is willing to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and to conduct in-depth cooperation in high-level exchanges, strategic collaboration, joint exercises, equipment and technology, and other fields. The development of Sino-Russian military relations in the new era will provide positive energy for safeguarding the common interests of the two countries and world peace and stability.
Question: We have noticed that President Xi said in a phone call with US President Biden that the economic, financial, law enforcement, military and other departments of the two countries can also have more contacts.
In the next step, how will the defense departments of China and the United States carry out contacts?
A: Recently, President Xi and President Biden had the first phone call. They agreed that we should enhance mutual understanding, unblock communication channels, promote exchanges and cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, and refrain from conflict and confrontation.
The important consensus of the leaders of the two countries pointed out the direction for the development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries and sent a positive signal to the world.
At present, Sino-US relations are at an important juncture. Cooperation between China and the United States will benefit both sides, and struggle will hurt both. Cooperation is the only correct choice for both parties.
The Sino-US military relations are an important part of the relations between the two countries. Maintaining the healthy and stable development of the relations between the two militaries is the general trend and popular aspirations. It is also the responsibility of the two defense departments.
We hope that the U.S. will work with China to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, expand pragmatic cooperation, properly manage differences, and promote the stability of Sino-U.S. military relations. Zhiyuan.
Q: Recently, Japanese media reported that Chinese official vessels have more frequent activities in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands. The Japanese side is concerned about China’s increased maritime activities.
what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Answer: The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory, which has sufficient historical and legal basis.
The law enforcement activities carried out by Chinese government ships within the territorial waters of the country are legitimate and undisputed, and will continue to be normalized.
Japan is an important neighbor of China.
We hope that Japan will focus on the overall long-term development of bilateral relations, meet China halfway, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the spirit of mutual cooperation partners and not pose threats to each other to achieve common development and benefit the two countries and their peoples.
Q: According to media reports, the French Navy has recently sent ships to carry out a "free navigation" mission in the South China Sea. The British Navy said it will also prepare to enter the South China Sea for operations.
There are comments that the South China Sea may become a field of wrestling among major powers.
what opinions do the Chinese have on this issue?
Answer: At present, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. The countries in the region are committed to turning the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.
China’s determination to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea is unwavering and resolutely opposes any country’s increasing military presence in the South China Sea in the name of "freedom of navigation", creating an atmosphere of tension, interfering in regional affairs, and harming the common interests of countries in the region.
It is hoped that relevant countries will make constructive contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. They will not make troubles or provoke the situation in the South China Sea to heat up.
Q: According to reports, US politicians have played up the "China threat theory" on multiple occasions, declaring that they will work closely with allies to "defeat China in competition."
What's your comment on this?
Answer: The world today has entered a new era of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win. The strengthening of the military alliance system against third parties is entirely a product of the Cold War mentality. It has long been outdated and should have been swept into the garbage dump of history.
We actively practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and oppose the zero-sum game concept that you lose, we lose, and the winner takes all; we promote the construction of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, and oppose closed and confrontational purposes. We adhere to the new security concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and oppose unilateral and exclusive absolute security.