On the afternoon of April 14, Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei answered recent media queries concerning the military.
Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers recent media queries concerning the military on the afternoon of April 14, 2023. (Photo/mod.gov.cn)
I have one piece of news to announce on the top.
At the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu will pay an official visit to Russia from April 16 to 19, during which General Li will meet and hold talks with Russian state and military leaders, and visit military academies.
In recent years, the military relationship between China and Russia continues to develop at a high level under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state. New progress has been made in strategic communication, joint exercises and training, and practical cooperation, which enriched the strategic connotations of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Question: President Xi recently attended a working conferenceon the themed education campaign on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, at which heurged solid efforts for the campaign to enhance cohesion and pool strengths for forging ahead on the new journey. Please introduce arrangements in the military for the education campaign.
Answer: The working conference on the themed education campaign on the study and implementation of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was held in Beijing on April 3. President Xi attended the meeting and gave an important speech, which has received warm responses throughout the military. From the strategic height of the overall development of the Party and the country's causes in the new era and on the new journey, President Xi profoundly expounded on the great importance, goals and requirements of the themed education campaign and made comprehensive plans for it in his speech, which provided a fundamental basis for the Party to carry out the education campaign.
On April 10, the military held a working conference on the themed education campaign for the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to mobilize and make arrangements for the campaign in the military. The conference requires the armed forces to resolutely implement the CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans, focus on studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, have a profound understanding of the decisive significance of affirming Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and affirming the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership, and implement the CMC chairman responsibility system. The military should carry out the campaign heart and soul and make new achievements in its practice of strengthening the military.
First, we will guide the education campaign with the principles detailed in President Xi's important speech, grasp its political significance, strategic requirements, practical methods and motivational policies, so as to ensure a right direction of the campaign. Second, in line with the campaign's overall requirements, goals and tasks, we will strengthen theoretical study, enhance Party consciousness, emphasize practice and strive for tangible progress in strengthening the military. We will work harder to firm up our conviction and loyalty, overcome difficulties, and make new advances in innovative development. Third, we will focus on our priorities, consolidate the leadership responsibilities of the Party committees, carefully organize and implement the education campaign, and combine it with the educational and practical activities of "Studying the Thought on Strengthening the Military, and Contributing to the Cause of Strengthening the Military". This should be aligned with improving military training and preparedness and the implementation of major tasks to make the campaign yield tangible results and far-reaching effects.
Question: It is reported that China's State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) have recently issued the newly revised Regulations on Military Recruitment. What is the significance of the revised regulations? What innovations have been made in it?
Answer: The newly revised Regulations on Military Recruitment has recently been issued with the approval of the State Council and the CMC, and will take effect on May 1, 2023. As an important basic regulation on China's military recruitment in accordance with the law, the document applies Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and the military strategic guideline for a new era, and serves the needs of national defense. Aiming to enlist better recruits and standardize working procedures, the document makes a systematical design and optimizes the recruitment process to establish a ready and efficient recruitment system of the new era featuring standard procedures, clear-cut duties and responsibilities, and smooth alignment between wartime and peacetime arrangements. It will provide a powerful institutional guarantee for replenishing and reserving service members, consolidating national defense, and strengthening the armed forces.
The revised regulations consist of 74 articles under 11 chapters, with innovations in six aspects. First, the organization and leadership of military recruitment is improved and the Party's leading role strengthened. A recruitment organization and leadership system covering the national, provincial, municipal and county levels and involving the government, universities and colleges has been established. Second, the recruitment of high-caliber recruits is highlighted. A comprehensive assessment and merit-based selecting mechanism is created. College students are the key targets, with priority given to college graduates and those meeting the special requirements on political background, physical conditions, expertise and skills. Qualified veterans can be re-enlisted and given priority for positions in their former troops or for other similar positions. Third, the procedures of physical examination and political assessment are improved. Preliminary results from physical examinations, wherever they are taken, will be recognized nationwide, and the candidates' political integrity and performance will be a key indicator of assessment. Fourth, the approach of recruit transfer is improved. Recruits may either be sent to the troops by relevant authorities or report to the units themselves, which are the two important ways of transfer. Fifth, the mechanism of recruit quarantine, re-examination and return is improved. More attention is paid to ensuring the rights and interests of the returned recruits, and addressing their concerns about the impact of being returned home. Sixth, efforts are made to step up the overall support for military recruitment, advance IT application in the recruitment work, and put into place a system of insurance and support for the applicants. The supervision, inspection as well as commendations and rewards in recruitment work are intensified, and the methods for identifying and punishing the breach of law in the process of recruitment are detailed, so as to ensure law-based and efficient implementation of the work.
Question: It is reported that the Chinese and Cambodia militaries recently held the Golden Dragon-2023 joint exercise in Cambodia, with a total of more than 3,000 troops from the two sides involved. Please tell s more about this joint exercise.
Answer: From March 23 to April 8, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces staged the Golden Dragon-2023 joint exercise at the Royal Gendarmerie Training Center in Kampong Chhnang Province and in the waters off the Sihanoukville port. The Golden Dragonis a solid step to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and an important platform for exchanges, mutual learning and realistic training between the two militaries.
This year's exercise has three features. First, expanded participating forces. Naval troops participated this year for the first time in addition to army troops, increasing the number of participants to more than 3,000 and enriching practical bilateral cooperation. Second, enhanced integration level. A joint command was established to carry out joint planning and command, explore joint commanding process for bilateral operations, and realize mutual coordination in institutions, planning, managements and mechanism. Third, enriched training courses. With a view to enhancing interoperability of Chinese-Cambodian militaries, new courses including coordinated navigation, mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal, and pandemic prevention and control were set up to promote practical training and in-depth integration. In addition, during the exercise, the Chinese side donated educational and medical supplies to local schools and conducted humanitarian assistance.
As a Cambodian proverb goes, trust develops like the growth of a tree. China and Cambodia have long trusted and supported each other. We are willing to work with the Cambodian side to comprehensively implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, capitalize on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the "China-Cambodia Year of Friendship" this year, continue to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various areas, so as to make greater contributions to the China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic partnership and regional peace and stability.
Chinese and Cambodian vessels carry out coordinated navigation and communication. (Photo by Gong Shengxiang)
Chinese troops donate educational materials to local students. (Photo by Gong Shengxiang )
Closing ceremony of the Golden Dragon-2023. (Photo by Gong Shengxiang )
Question: It is reported that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in a recent interview that in the face of the "security challenge" posed by China, NATO must deepen its engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. What's your comment on this?
Answer: China firmly opposes NATO using the alleged "China Challenge" as a pretext to intervene in Asia-Pacific affairs and build an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO". In recent years, NATO has continuously broken through its traditional defense zones and fields and sought to strengthen military and security ties with Asia Paciic countries. It has deliberately stirred up discords and differences, hyped up bloc confrontation, and created regional tensions, posing a real challenge and threat to regional and world peace and stability.
China never agrees with the obsolete thinking that a stronger country is bound to follow the beaten path to seek hegemony. We have solemnly enshrined "to stick to a path of peaceful development" in our Constitution, included "to safeguard world peace and oppose aggression and expansion" in our national defense law, and marked the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as the global significance of China's national defense in the new era. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods.
Asia Pacific is a promising land for peace and development, and should not become a chessboard for geo-political rivalry. China urges NATO to abandon the Cold War mentality, put aside arrogance and bias, and objectively view China's development and domestic and foreign policies. NATO should form a rational understanding of China, stop dangerous actions that disrupt the Asia Pacific, and do more things that are conducive to peace and stability in Europe and the world.