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China's military set to 'defend and cooperate'

By Simon Stafford
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, April 19, 2013
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Regional and national security, global stability and cooperation are the central concerns which will occupy China's armed forces in light of current global tensions and challenges, according to Colonel Zhao Weibin, a research fellow at the Center on China-America Defense Relations (CCADR) under the Academy of Military Science.

Colonel Zhao was interviewed by China.org.cn Thursday following the publication Tuesday of a White Paper which outlined the fundamental policies and principles guiding China's armed forces, and she was quick to link the issue of China's security with that of the near region and the wider world.

"As mentioned in the White Paper, China's security and development are closely connected with the peace and prosperity of the whole world," Colonel Zhao told China.org.cn. "China's armed forces are the initiators and facilitators of – and participants in – international security cooperation, as detailed in the White Paper."

Pressed specifically on the issue of the threat posed by near-neighbor North Korea, Colonel Zhao stressed that, despite escalating tensions, all-out war is not in anyone's interest, and the primary role of the Chinese military will likely remain one of national defense.

"I think it is [one of the Chinese military's] fundamental tasks to safeguard national sovereignty and defend the motherland; however, as verified by the Ministry of National Defense, the PLA has not concentrated any troops along the borders of the two countries [China and North Korea]," she said. "But we will keep constant combat readiness and get ready for any further aggression."

She also reiterated China's wider political aim of securing peace through dialogue on the Korean Peninsula.

"I think nowadays, tensions are getting higher and higher; but I think all parties involved should resume talks and try to achieve denuclearization of the peninsula," said Zhao. "I think China has endeavored to [facilitate] peace negotiations; we hope everyone can walk towards the same direction."

She spelled out a three-step solution to the Korean issue: denuclearization, peace and dialogue, with the emphasis on mutual respect.

"All parties concerned should listen attentively to the concerns of all parties, to help them to go back to the negotiating track," she insisted.

Despite increasing fears of the nuclearization of the Korean situation, Colonel Zhao played down talk of any nuclear escalation and once again spelled out China's commitment to finding a peaceful solution.

"[As for] nuclear weapons, I don't think it's so easy for a country to develop [nuclear weapons] in such a short time and we know that war and chaos are not in the interest of any party," Zhao stressed.

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