The arrival of the new stage of the new century has witnessed the upswing of the position and role of military might, the swelling of its applicable scope and the mounting flexibility of the way it used. In-depth and solid military training is not only considered a direct preparation for military struggles, but also a major means to deter the adversaries and create favorable strategic situation in peacetime.

　　All countries without exception attach importance to turning military training into servicing the strategic purpose. Major powers like the US and Russia give top priority to the flexible use of military might, and more often than not, they would resort to the modus operandi of translating training into deterrence in the process of engaging in military training. For that sake, pointed trainings with very clear objectives are staged. Such exercises as "Summer Pulse 2004" and "Valiant Shield 2006" organized by the US in recent years in the western Pacific region fall into this category. It is even more so for the US and Russia to combine organically training with deterrence in terms of the development and application of the strategic nuclear force. To name but a few examples: The US organized such large-scale nuclear exercises as Schriever III space-based war game exercise and "Global Shield-A Just Counterattack" in 2005; Russia also conducted a five-day nuclear war simulation exercise. These exercises might be different but they share the same purpose: To train the troops and enhance the actual fighting capability on the one hand, and to show off their fighting power so as to meet their strategic intention of deterring and containing the potential rivals on the other.

　　Given this situation, the immediate task for us at present is to set our sight on creating a favorable international strategic environment, earnestly implement and put into effect the military strategic principle of containing war, coping with crisis and maintaining peace in the new period, and establish the concept of using training as a means of deterrence and combining training with deterring purpose. There are two ways of doing it: First, we should give plenty publicity to military trainings with low confidential value to display the achievements of our military modernization drive and the improvement of combat effectiveness. Second, we should intentionally showcase the fine quality, first-rate operational strength and down-to-earth preparation for war by taking the opportunity of military exchanges with foreign countries in order to serve the grand strategy of containing war and safeguarding peace.

　　By Zhao Zhongqi

　　(Nov 21, PLA Daily)