'A new security concept'
China has all along stood for a new security concept.
In the latter half of the 1990s, Chinese leaders explicitly put forward a new security concept centering on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and co-operation.
They urged that the purposes of the UN Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence be made the political basis for international security, co-operation and common development.
They called for the common efforts of all countries to create an international environment of long-term stability.
Based on such new security concept, China's security policy aims at preserving the country's state sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, while serving its economic development by maintaining a stable international environment.
This policy has three objectives:
One, to maintain China's stability and development;
Two, to maintain peace and stability in the surrounding areas;
Three, to promote international security dialogue and co-operation.
On the basis of safeguarding our sovereignty and ensuring development, we stress the peaceful nature of our foreign policy, the defensive nature of our military strategy, the co-operative nature of our international security policy, while recognising and respecting the diversity of the world.
Meanwhile China's national defense construction is aimed at safeguarding security and unity of the country and ensuring smooth advancement of economic development.
China refuses to join any military alliance or engage in any arms race. China does not seek spheres of influence nor sets up military bases overseas.
China opposes the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other WMDs and stands for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons.
China has promised in explicit terms not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon countries or regions. This policy will remain unchanged.
At the end of 2005, we concluded the 10th round of disarmament since the founding of the People's Republic, adding the total number of reduced troops to almost 2 million over the past two decades.
Image: The Beijing Opera Troupe of Liaoning showcases traditional Beijing Opera highlights at the Chinese Embassy reception in New Delhi to mark the beginning of the India-China friendship year. Photograph courtesy Chinese Embassy, New Delhi
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