China's Defense Ministry held a regular press conference in Beijing on August 31, 2011. Yang Yujun, spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, briefed reporters on high-level outbound visits of the People's Liberation Army leadership, China's aircraft carrier platform's trial voyage and its naval strategy.
Aircraft carrier platform on trial
Aircraft carrier building is a long-term and complicated project. In this process, a series of scientific experiments and training will be conducted, which are regular and normal things, said Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun.
Yang said the carrier platform's trial voyage has achieved an expected aim. The carrier is now undergoing refitting and testing in the shipyard. Follow-ups on the platform trial will be based on scientific experiments and training.
Offshore defense strategy unchanged
As for the U.S. Defense Department's recent promulgation of the Annual Report on Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China, spokesmen of China's Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry have commented on it. "This report costs $73,212. The United States is now struggling with a sluggish economy, so I hope the U.S. side can make good use of taxpayers' money," Yang said
As for China's aircraft carrier development and its naval strategy, we have made it clear: China's defensive policy will not change just because of the development of advanced arms, neither will China's offshore defensive policy, Yang noted.
Expecting Japan to strengthen mutual trust with neighbors
Questions have been raised on recent reports that the Japanese government plans to deploy coastal surveillance forces to Okinawa and Yonaguni-jim and its Defense Ministry is considering how to send Japanese self-defense forces to Ishigaki and Miyako-jima, so as to strengthen the country's defensive power.
As for this question, Yang Yujun said: "We have noticed relevant reports. Due to some historical reasons, any Japanese military move will cause Asian neighbors alarm and suspicion. Japan is required to explain its true intention of military deployment in its southwest islands. It must be pointed out that China and Japan are making efforts to promote a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, so the Japanese side is expected to go in this direction, instead of the opposite. We hope Japan can learn from historical lessons and be careful in taking actions. We hope Japan can do more things to promote mutual trust with its neighbors and act in a manner conducive to regional peace and stability."
China and India are neighbors and partners
China and India are not enemies or rivals, but neighbors and partners, Yang stressed. Recent years have seen the two countries work to develop a strategic cooperative partnership oriented to peace and prosperity. The two militaries have also pushed forward their relationship by conducting various friendly communications, deepening mutual understanding and trust and exploring more areas for pragmatic cooperation.
Yang said some people are deliberately scheming to provoke conflicts between China and India.
Many consensuses on China-Vietnamese defensive issues
China and Vietnam recently held the fifth defense talks in Beijing. State Councilor and Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met Vietnamese Deputy Defense Secretary Nguyen Chi Vinh, and China's Deputy Chief of Staff Ma Xiaotian had negotiations with Nguyen Chi Vinh. During the meetings, the two sides had in-depth talks on international and regional security, and also the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries, reaching many agreements. The two sides both agree that it is in the fundamental interests and common aspirations of China and Vietnam to strengthen strategic communication and properly deal with sensitive issues in line with the two countries' leadership consensus. It is also conducive to regional peace, stability and development. The two sides would like to strengthen friendly exchanges and will try to overcome differences through peaceful manners, so as to promote mutual trust through cooperation and achieve stability based on mutual trust. Both sides have realized the importance of keeping alert to external provocations to damage the two countries' relationship and safeguarding the two countries' common interests and friendship.
Arms development targeting no enemies
Some media mention that China's rapid development of missile technologies has worried some countries. In response to this question, Yang said China will unswervingly pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and able to enhance proactive military strategies. To develop arms equipment means to safeguard the country's security, but does not target any certain country. We hope the rest of the world will treat these in an objective and perspective manner, instead of excessive guessing and misreading. |