Defense Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on Recent Media Queries Concerning the Military

On the morning of December 13, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, 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 morning of December 13, 2024. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by He Youwen)

(The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

I have two pieces of information at the top.

Firstly, at the invitation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, a contingent of the PLA Military Band will go to Vietnam and perform at the celebration for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnamese People's Army. This will further deepen traditional friendship between the two militaries and expand bilateral exchanges in military culture.

Secondly, on December 12, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense hosted the 22nd Expert Working Group (EWG) Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting. Over 30 representatives from SCO member states and the SCO Secretariat attended the conference. They had in-depth discussions on strengthening substantive cooperation in defense and security, and on improving cooperation mechanisms.

Question: This year marks the 25th year of Macao's return to the motherland. Recently, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Macao was held at the PLA Macao Garrison. Please brief us more on the major achievements of the development of the PLA Macao Garrison over the past 25 years.

Wu Qian: The PLA Macao Garrison is an important manifestation of national sovereignty. Since its garrison in Macao 25 years ago, especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the PLA Macao garrison has firmly implemented the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and acted upon the Macao Basic Law and the Garrison Law. It has comprehensively strengthened its own development, successfully completed various defense-oriented tasks, and effectively safeguarded national sovereignty and security as well as prosperity and stability in Macao. Firstly, it has strengthened political guidance. The PLA Macao Garrison has thoroughly studied and acted on new visions, concepts and strategies of President Xi Jinping on the governance of Hong Kong and Macao. It has implemented the policy to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces in the new era, vigorously strengthened its political work, carried out regular activities, and put in place relevant institutions, so as to maintain absolute loyalty and reliability when confronting special challenges. Secondly, it has focused on military training and preparedness. The PLA Macao Garrison has resolutely fulfilled its missions and tasks, conducted realistic military training, and enhanced capabilities of emergency command, guard duties, and handling of special situations. It has organized joint training and exercises on a regular basis and participated in joint exercises overseas, further elevating its defense capabilities of being ready for operations at all times. Thirdly, it has shown genuine love and care for Macao and the local people. The PLA Macao Garrison organizes military barrack open-day activities on May 1 and receptions on August 1 every year. It has given lectures on national defense at local universities, organized such public welfare activities as tree-planting, blood donation and charitable donations, and contributed approximately 1,000 service members for disaster relief efforts. It has also trained more than 13,000 flag bearers, received over 157,000 visitors to its military exhibition hall, which received positive political and social feedback. Fourthly, it has maintained a good conduct. The PLA Macao Garrison follows the principle of rigorously running the military in accordance with the law. It has organized activities to cultivate the habit of respecting, studying, observing and applying the law, and enhanced the learning of such laws and regulations as the Macao Basic Law and the Garrison Law. It has introduced 13 sets of rules and regulations on personnel administration, vehicle management and entry-and-exit security check, and complied with them in earnest, demonstrating the fine image of a disciplined force.

Looking forward, the PLA Macao Garrison will always be a loyal guard serving the Party and the people wholeheartedly, an elite force trusted by Macao compatriots, and an anchor for Macao's prosperity and stability.

Question: According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the Chinese side recently took "aggressive actions" towards Philippine fishing boats heading toward Houteng Jiao. It is also reported that several Philippine government vessels were stopped while trying to intrude into Huangyan Dao. The commander of the Philippine Navy said that they had formulated "Gray Zone" tactics to cope with the activities of Chinese boats operating in the South China Sea. May I have your comment?

Wu Qian: The Philippine side, with US support and solicitation, has been stirring up troubles on many spots in the South China Sea. From Ren'ai Jiao to Xianbin Jiao and from Houteng Jiao to Huangyan Dao, such repeated provocations have allowed the international community to see clearly who is undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and who is fabricating and spreading lies.

Wherever they go, whether transiting or re-supplying, the Philippine ships always have a full deck of reporters. The real issue, however, is never about who has more reporters, but who has more legitimacy. The territories of the Philippines are defined by a series of international treaties, which do not include the Nansha Islands and Huangyan Dao. The Philippine side knows this fact very well. Chin's position is clear and consistent: more provocations lead to stronger countermeasures; should the Philippine side stubbornly follow the wrong path, China will never back down.

Question: Recently, relevant military and civil authorities jointly issued the Regulations on the Building and Management of Accommodations Houses in Support of Education for Children of Service Members. The document puts forward standardized measures to address the accommodations and child-care issues for the children of service members stationed in remote areas, and has received high praise online. What are the main considerations in formulating this document? What are the new measures?

Wu Qian: Service members shoulder the sacred duty and noble mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. Military families make significant sacrifices in order to support them in fulfilling their responsibilities. In particular, for troops stationed in remote areas, educational resources are scarce. Therefore, it is a big challenge for children of service members to go to school. The Regulations on the Building and Management of Accommodations Houses in Support of Education for Military Children issued by relevant military and civil authorities, for the first time, made clear the planning, construction, management, operation, funding and policy support for accommodations houses. The document specifies that troops stationed in border or remote areas far from towns may open accommodations houses in closest cities at or above the county level, to provide full boarding and lodging for children of service members. These children are also entitled to local preferential education policies.

The children of service members are the flowers of the military and the future of our nation. They deserve the care and love of the whole society. The policy of accommodations houses fully demonstrates the care of the government and the armed forces for military families who make special sacrifices. It will further motivate all service men and women to strive for a strong military with high combat readiness and the ability to fight and win.

Question: According to Japanese media, a delegation of field officers of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) visited China recently. There are comments that the exchange reflects a stabilized and improving atmosphere in China-Japan defense relations. What's your comment? Could you tell us more about the visit?

Wu Qian: At the invitation of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS), a delegation of junior-and-mid-level Japanese military officers visited China from November 26 to December 4. The delegation visited units including a guard division of the Beijing Garrison, a naval base and the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the PLA Air Force. They also went to the Academy of Military Sciences for discussions with their Chinese counterparts and visited Chengdu and Guangzhou.

The China-Japan junior-and-mid-level military officers' exchange program began in 2001 and has played an important role in enhancing understanding and trust between the defense agencies of the two countries. To develop China-Japan defense relationship, it's important for us to bear in mind the overall picture and take a long-term perspective. We stand ready to work with the Japanese side to continuously advance mutual visits and exchanges, and to inject positive energy into the improvement of bilateral relations.

Question: According to an announcement from the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, traffic control would be implemented at the entrance of a deep-water channel for large ships at the mouth of the Yangtze River in early December. Analysts say that the PLANS Fujian may have completed its fifth sea trial and returned to its home port. Could you confirm that?

Wu Qian: It's a regular arrangement for the PLANS Fujian to conduct relevant trials during its construction process. Follow-up tests of the aircraft carrier will be carried out based on the progress of construction.

Question: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently delivered a policy speech, saying that the international order is facing major challenges with Chinese aircraft carriers navigating in the vicinity of Japan's territorial waters, and their carrier-based aircraft conducting over 1000 takeoffs and landings in the Pacific; and that Japan, based on its National Security Strategy, will greatly enhance defense capabilities. What's your comment?

Wu Qian: The Japanese side has been hyping up the alleged "China military threat" to cover its intention to get rid of the Pacifist Constitution and return to its old path of military expansion. In fact, China and Japan have maintained communications through diplomatic and defense channels on air and maritime security issues. There is absolutely no need for the Japanese side to be paranoid and overly suspicious. The statistics mentioned just proved that Japan has been closely tracking, monitoring and harassing operations of Chinese vessels and aircraft, which has endangered the safety of the Chinese vessels and aircraft, and can easily trigger incidents at sea or in the air.

In recent years, Japan has ignored opposition from the international community and went further down the path of military expansion, causing grave concerns among neighboring countries and the international community. We urge the Japanese side to draw lessons from history, be prudent with its words and actions in military and security areas, and do more things that are conducive to regional peace and stability. The Chinese side is willing to maintain communications with the Japanese side to properly address maritime and air emergencies. We hope the Japanese side will work with us in the same direction, take the overall situation into consideration, follow the right path, and jointly keep the maritime and airspace situation and the overall bilateral relationship stable.

Question: It is reported that the 10th International Symposium on Sun Tzu's Art of War was held in Beijing and attracted attention from home and abroad. Please tell us more about that.

Wu Qian: The 10th International Symposium on Sun Tzu's Art of War was held in Beijing from December 5 to 6. Over 350 Chinese and foreign delegates from nearly 30 countries carried out in-depth discussions under the theme of "Sun Tzu's Art of War and Mutual Learning among Civilizations", achieving positive results.

Sun Tzu's Art of War is a valuable asset not only for China but also for the world. It expounded on the essence of military strategies and tactics by applying the principles of dialectics. Concepts such as "the essence of using force is to stop violence", "sail in the same boat", "know yourself and know your enemy" and "preparedness brings victory" have long transcended national borders, and become a shared treasure of human civilization.

It has been well-known since ancient times that real masters of the art of war are never warlike. The study of Sun Tzu's Art of War is not to go back to the past but to guide the present. The world today should not be a wrestling ground for zero-sum games, but a garden of civilizations featuring mutual learning. We are willing to take Sun Tzu's Art of War as a bridge to explore a path of peaceful development where exchanges, mutual learning and equality transcends estrangement, clashes and racial supremacy, to deliver on the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and to contribute to the integration and development of human civilizations.

Question: Recently, the leader of the Taiwan region Lai Cheng-te transited through Hawaii and the Guam. The PLA has not announced any information on conducing military exercises. Taiwan's military authorities claimed that the mainland has implemented restrictive measures on coastal airspace and the number of warships deployed around Taiwan is bigger than ever before, and that Taiwan's military has established an "Emergency Operations Center" to closely monitor the PLA's actions and will stay on high alert. Will the PLA conduct any military exercise? What's your comment？

Wu Qian: It is the PLA's lofty mission to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and defend the shared interests of compatriots on both sides of the Strait. As water has no constant form, there are in warfare no constant conditions. The PLA will decide whether and when to conduct military exercises in accordance with our needs and the situation on the ground. Whether there is a military exercise or not, the PLA will never be absent in fighting "Taiwan independence" and promoting national reunification. Any attempt to split the nation through soliciting external support or resorting to force will be punished, and will never succeed.