A panoramic view of the
present-day world displays the simultaneous existence of both opportunities for
and challenges to peace and development, and of positive and negative factors
bearing on security and stability. The op
portunities
cannot be shared and the challenges cannot be overcome unless diverse
civilizations, social systems and development models live together harmoniously,
trust each other and engage in cooperation. Hence, the pursuit of peace,
development and cooperation has become an irresistible trend of history.
The
development goal for China to strive for in the first two decades of this
century is to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. As a
large developing country, China has before it an arduous task for modernization,
which calls for prolonged and persistent hard work. China will mainly rely on
its own strength for development, and therefore poses no obstacle or threat to
any one. China needs a peaceful international environment for its own
development, which in turn will enhance peace and development in the world.
Holding high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, China adheres to
an independent foreign policy of peace and a national defense policy of the
defensive nature. China will never go for expansion, nor will it ever seek
hegemony.
A major
strategic task of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in exercising state power
is to secure a coordinated development of national defense and the economy, and
to build modernized, regularized and revolutionary armed forces to keep the
country safe. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee and
the Enlarged CPC Conference of the Central Military Commission(CMC), held
successively in September 2004, paid a high tribute to Jiang Zemin for his
outstanding contributions to national defense and military modernization, and
appointed Hu Jintao Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. Meanwhile,
the CMC composition was also readjusted and expanded, and the developmental
direction for national defense and military modernization clearly defined. In
the new stage of the 21st century, China's national defense and army building
shall be guided by Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three
Represents," in an all-round way implement Jiang Zemin's thought on national
defense and army building, maintain the fundamental principle and system of
absolute Party leadership over the armed forces, and take the military strategy
of the new era as an overarching guideline to actively push for the national
defense and military modernization.
This White
Paper, China's National Defense in 2004, is published to illustrate China's
national defense policies and the progress made in the past two years in its
defense and army building.
