When Jin Yinan, professor of the National Defense University, went to the US to engage in advanced studies and to give lectures, he noticed a quite interesting phenomenon: The American servicemen cherish a mystical respect for their Chinese counterparts who once stood up to the Americans on the Korean battlefield. The respect was earned by the officers and men of the Chinese People's Volunteers at the cost of shedding their blood and sacrificing their lives half a century ago.

　　On the Korean battlefield, the weapon and armament disparity between the Chinese People's Volunteers and the American troops was great. However, the puzzling part of it is that despite of all the superiorities enjoyed by the American troops, they were beaten back beyond the "38th Parallel". The American forces believe that the strength of the Chinese forces resides more in the spirit featuring persevering, unyielding, brave fighting and not afraid of sacrifice, which they call the "riddling oriental spirit".

　　The author holds that the connotation of the "oriental spirit" implies the mentality of firm ideal and faith, iron will and pressing forward boldly, and the style of being heroic, tenacious and fighting continuously, as well as the great heroism of prevailing over the enemy but never to be overpowered by the enemy. This very spirit bestows on the Chinese military the unique political superiority that stands for a kind of soft power. War is not only a matter of contest of hard power but also a trial of strength of the soft power.

　　It is by no means our intention to deny the vital role of the high tech weapons in the war, let alone encouraging the practice of facing off modern weapons with human bodies. What we are underlining here is that when we are at a disadvantage in terms of weapons and armaments, we should give full play to our long points and circumvent our weakness, attach great importance to human factor, carry forward and promote the "oriental spirit", build up the confidence of triumphing over the enemies, and turn round the unfavorable comparison of the aggregate strength by enhancing the soft power.

　　That the leaders taking the lead and ready to charge at the head of their men in the war is one of the secrets that makes our military ever-victorious, and is likewise the powerhouse of the "oriental spirit". Therefore, if the Chinese military wants to continue the splendid record, the broad cadres must continue to be the leading aircraft soaring to engage the enemy in the air, or the leading wild goose hovering high in the blue sky, or the leading horse galloping across the grasslands, or the file leader ready to break into the enemy line.

　　By Xu Jiaxiang

　　(June 2, PLA Daily)