Respected Lt. General Prakash Menon, the Commandant of National Defence College,

    Senior Directing Staff and Officers,

    It is my great honour to be invited by NDC for the second time to deliver a lecture. I still remember the active interaction I had with the last batch of officers last year and I am looking forward to having a similar one with you today. First I want to share some of my views on China’s security perspective.

Perspective on current international security situation can be varied from country to country. In spite of the turbulent international situation, China is of the view that the world today is in general peaceful and stable. On the one hand, the world is undergoing tremendous changes and adjustment. Economic globalisation and world multi-polarization are gaining momentum. On the other hand, peace, development and cooperation remain to be the common aspiration of international community of the times.

    Being an Asian country, China is sensitive about the security situation in the region. The Asia-Pacific security situation is stable on the whole. The regional economy is performing relatively well in spite of the global financial crisis. Regional and sub-regional economic and security cooperation maintain the development momentum. Regional organizations such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are playing increasingly important role in security and economic cooperation. The Six-Party Talks on the Korean nuclear issue, with all ups and downs, have remained to be an indispensable mechanism for searching a final settlement to the issue.

    However, there still exist many factors of uncertainty in Asia-Pacific security. The global financial crisis triggered by the US sub prime-mortgage crisis has impacted heavily on regional economic development. Political turbulence persists in countries which are undergoing the process of economic and social transition. Ethnic and religious clashes and conflicting claims over territorial and maritime rights and interests are causing growing concerns. Regional hotspots pop up from time to time. At the same time, major powers have increased their strategic attention to and input in the Asia-Pacific region, adjusting and enhancing their military capabilities and presence. In addition, terrorist, separatist and extremist forces are on rising and non-traditional security issues such as serious natural disasters, infectious diseases crop up frequently. The mechanisms for security cooperation between countries and within regions, and the capability for coping with regional security threats in a coordinated way are yet to be enhanced.

    Against the above backdrop of regional situation, China's security environment has improved in general due to positive changes in many areas. The achievements China made in its modernization drive have yielded fruitful results. Overall national strength of China has increased substantially, people's living standards have kept improving, the society has remained stable and unified, and the capability for upholding national security has been enhanced correspondingly. The attempts of the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence" to seek "de jure Taiwan independence" have been thwarted and the situation across the Taiwan Straits has taken a significantly positive. Consequently cross-Straits relations have been improved. Meanwhile, China has made steady progress in its relations with the developed countries, strengthened in all respects the good-neighborly friendship with its neighboring countries, and further expanded its traditional friendship with other developing countries. China is becoming more proactive in playing constructive role in multilateral affairs, thus notably elevating its international status and influence. All these have provided a relatively favorable security environment for China`s development at home.

    However, China is still confronted with long-term, complicated, and diverse security threats and challenges. Issues of existence security and development security, traditional security threats and non-traditional security threats, and domestic security and international security are interwoven and becoming more and more difficult and complicate to handle. Being a newly emerging economy, China is faced with the superiority of the developed countries in economy, science and technology, as well as military affairs. It also faces strategic maneuvers and containment from the outside while preventing disruption and sabotage by hostile forces inside. Separatist forces working for "Taiwan independence," "East Turkistan independence" and "Tibet independence" pose threats to China's unity and security. Damages caused by non-traditional security threats like terrorism, natural disasters, economic insecurity and information insecurity are on the rise. Impact of uncertainties and destabilizing factors from outside on China's national security and development is still increasing. In particular, the arms sell to Taiwan by certain country in violation of the agreed principles, causing serious consequence to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

    The current security environment in the region presents both challenges and opportunities to China. Based on the sober assessment and calculation in light of its national development strategy, China will make efforts in the following areas in order to maintain a favorable security environment.

    First, China will continue to uphold the policy of peace, development and cooperation, persist in taking the road of peaceful development, pursue the opening-up strategy of mutual benefit, and promote the building of a harmonious world with enduring peace and common prosperity. As a fast developing country who is gaining growing weight and influence in the international system, China`s economy has become an important part of the world economy and its future has closely connected with the international community. Nowadays, neither China nor any other country can claim that it can deal a world issue alone. Only through international cooperation can we effectively address the common security problems facing the world today. We need cooperation to realize common development and promote inter-civilization harmony and coexistence.

    Second, China will persist in implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development in a bid to achieve integration of development with security, giving due consideration to both traditional and non-traditional security issues, enhancing national strategic capabilities, and perfecting the national emergency management system. China will continue to put the economic development as its priority. 30 years experience of reform and opening-up have taught us that only development can solve problems we are facing.

    Third, China will firmly pursue the new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, and advocating the settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues by peaceful means. It will actively engage in security dialogues and cooperation with other countries, oppose acts of aggression and interference in internal affairs of other countries. China will actively participate in international affairs, especially in seeking peaceful settlement of regional and international hotspots, participating in UN peace-keeping operations, fighting against terrorism, high sea piracy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. China will intensify its international cooperation, especially in the regional framework such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

    The emergence of a cluster of major developing countries is a unique feature of today`s world. At the same time, the arrival of the Asian Age has become a buzzword. It is of my view that the ascent of China and other major developing countries is inevitable and irreversible. With correct development strategy and clearly defined objective, China will steadily attain its set objective of building a moderately prosperous society by the year 2020. While welcomed by majority of countries, the peaceful development of China still arouse some concerns in certain quarter. Certain forces around the world even engage in spreading the notion of so-called “China threat”. To put it bluntly, such phenomena is largely due to either the lack of knowledge of Chinese history, culture and present policy of China, or due to the out-dated cold war mentality. So-called “China threat” is baseless.

    Reason one, China adheres to the peaceful foreign policy of independence and is always a staunch force safeguarding world peace. China's development poses no threat to the world. In its 5, 000 years-long history, China has nurtured thinking of harmony and peace loving. There are deep-rooted notions of “peace is the most prized value”, “a harmonious family thrives” and “harmony brings wealth” etc. In China people often advice themselves, “don't do unto others what you don't want others do unto you.” China will only fight back when it is bullied and invaded by others. The Chinese government has stated clearly that China will never seek hegemony, or engage in military expansion, or interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, now or in the future, no matter how developed it becomes. A peaceful environment, both internal and external, is much needed for us to achieve the development goal of building our country into a moderately prosperous society. That is the reason why China will steadfastly stick to the peaceful development and make it a long-term national policy.

    Reason two, China is committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in its relation with other countries. For developed countries, we will continue to strengthen strategic dialogue, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and properly manage differences to promote long-term, stable and sound development of bilateral relations. For our neighbouring countries, we will continue to follow the foreign policy of friendship and partnership, strengthen good-neighbourly relations and practical cooperation with them, and energetically engage in regional cooperation in order to jointly create a peaceful, stable regional environment featuring equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation. For other developing countries, we will continue to increase solidarity and cooperation with them, cement traditional friendship, expand practical cooperation, provide assistance to them within our ability, and uphold the legitimate demands and common interests of developing countries.

    Reason three, China will continue to pursue a national defence policy of open, transparent and peace with non-offensive characteristic. China’s defence policy is to protect national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, safeguard the interests of national development and the interests of the Chinese people, which is purely defensive in nature. China will follow closely the new trends in world military development, further strengthen its military defense capability in keeping with the development of world security situation and in light of its security need and the economic development. Although China has leaped to the third place in terms of GDP in the world, with a total of RMB 30 trillion (roughly about US$4.5 trillion), its per capita GDP ranks still behind 100th and tens of millions of people are waiting to be lifted out poverty. As a developing country, China can not afford to squander too much money on military expenditure. In 2008, the amount was RMB417.77 billion, which equals 7% of US total, and accounts for only 1.38% of the total GDP of China. While the percentages of military expenditure in GDP stand at 4.6% for USA, 3% for UK, 2% for France and 2.6% for Russia. The per capita expenditure is even less compare with that of above mentioned countries. From these figures one can see that China is very restrained and rationale in its military development. We will maintain our defense capability at reasonable level. China will never enter into an arms race with other countries.

    Security perspective defines the security perception as well as security posture of a country. Therefore, a correct security perspective is vital to a successful national development strategy. If you perceive a country as an enemy, it may turn out to be an enemy. If you perceive a country as a partner then it may turn out to be a partner. A wrong security perception may lead a country to a waste of money, time and resources precious for national development. From the past experience, Chinese people know better than others that the future of our country lies in the economic development and social progress. The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has reaffirmed that the Chinese people will continue to carry on the policy of peaceful development. Whatever changes take place in the international situation, the Chinese government and people will always uphold the concept of peace, development and cooperation, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and work for the maintenance of world peace and common development.

    Now, I want to say few words about China and India security cooperation.

    China attaches great importance to the development of India and views India as a partner in cooperation instead of a rival. As two fast growing economic giants, the relationship between China and India has gone well beyond the bilateral context and acquired global and strategic dimension in importance. Both China and India are facing challenges such economic insecurity, terrorism, environmental degradation, climate change, food and energy insecurity, etc. The threats from outside and inside the two countries are on increase. It is in our common interests to join efforts in strengthening cooperation in meeting these problems and challenges, and increasing our roles and influence in multilateral affairs in order to create a more stable environment for the peace, development and prosperity of our two countries as well as for the whole world at large.

    It is the set policy of the Chinese government to further expand the Strategic Cooperative Partnership with India. And we maintain that to foster a close military ties and security cooperation between the two countries constitute an important part of bilateral relations. During the recent past years, security and defense exchanges have became a highlight in our bilateral relations. Last year, the Chinese Navy Commander visited India for the first time and the two countries held the second round of consultations on defense and security. In December 2008, China and India successfully conducted the “Join Hands-2008,” a joint army training exercise on combating terrorism, in India. This year, we foresee a continued active interaction and exchanges between the two sides. Indian Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Indian warships are going to visit China in the next few days.

    I must point out that there are always people in the world who are unhappy to see the fact that China and India are on good terms. They try to drive a wedge in between and like to project China and India relation as rivalries. It is true that China and India are yet to work out the problems left over by western colonial countries and to handle properly the differences and frictions in our political and economic cooperation. But our two countries, with long history of civilization, are matured and capable enough to handle the challenges properly. For China and India know that both will thrive if we cooperate, both will suffer if we fight with each other. There is no reason for the interactions of two great civilizations, which have already shown bright prospects of further development, to be interrupted. There is no reason for China and India to mutually suspect or engaging in zero sum games. The governments and people of our two countries are wise enough to make a right judgement and choice. It is my belief that once China and India joining their efforts, the Asian Age will become a reality.