China's security policy is designed first and foremost to
safeguard its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, Zhang
Zhijun, vice minister of the International Department of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (
CPC), said yesterday at the 42nd Munich Conference on Security
Policy.
The objectives of China's security policy are first of all to
maintain its own stability and development, Zhang said.
"The second is to maintain peace and stability in the
neighboring areas, and third to promote international security
dialogue and cooperation," he said.
Zhang added that China's security policy is geared to the
"needs of economic development and the creation of a stable
international environment, particularly, a favorable neighboring
environment."
China's national defense construction is aimed at safeguarding
security and unity of the country and ensuring the smooth
advancement of economic development, he said.
China "refuses to join any military alliance or engage in any
arms race," he said, adding: "China does not seek spheres of
influence nor aims to set up overseas military bases."
Zhang reaffirmed China's opposition to the proliferation of
nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and it
supports the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of
nuclear weapons.
China would not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against
nuclear weapons-free countries or regions, he added.
China has cut troop numbers by almost 2 million over the
last two decades, he said.
Zhang said China "stands for a new security concept that
features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and
collaboration."
He added that China is "working to enhance mutual trust through
dialogue, resolve conflicts through consultation, and seek
stability through cooperation."
China has supported efforts to conduct security dialogues and
establish regional security cooperation mechanisms so as to
strengthen and deepen multilateral security cooperation, he
said.
The conference, which ran from February 3 to 5, was attended by
more than 300 defense ministers and senior government officials
from 50 nations.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2006)