The 1st Symposium on Nontraditional Security Theory of the PLA was held in the PLA Academy of Military Sciences recently, during which more than 100 deputies from relevant units in and outside the military compared notes extensively on the background, characteristics and handling methods of the nontraditional security issues under the new situation.

　　The attending deputies looked upon the nontraditional security as the security issue that endangers the survival, development and stability of a nation and even the mankind other than such traditional security fields as politics, military and diplomacy. Nontraditional security takes the forms of terrorism, economic security, information security, resource security, culture security, public health security, ecological environment security, weapon proliferation and transnational crimes.

　　The analyses of the deputies come down to this: the nontraditional security issues faced by China become increasingly conspicuous with the development of globalization and China's incremental integration into the international system. The roles of the PLA in coping with nontraditional security threats are mainly epitomized in the following three major aspects: 1) Safeguard social stability, deter and smash the subversion and sabotage of the hostile forces, and uphold the lasting political stability and durable peace of the state; 2) rush to the rescue and disaster relief, and cash in on the superiority of the army in organizational work and related professions to do a good job in effectively controlling the situation and defusing the detriment and protect the safety of the state, the people's lives and property; 3) participate in international peace operations, including international peace-keeping, rescue, cracking down on transnational crimes and relevant joint military exercises, so as to make the due share of contributions for promoting international peace and development.

　　By Bao Bin and Wang Guifang

　　(Nov 16, PLA Daily)