Chinese  security strategy in Asia-Pacific region

Senior Colonel LinKejian analyses China’s objectives in the immediate neighbourhood.

In this age of globalization, the relationship between China and other countries is growing more and more and the level of reliance on each other is increasing day by day. Keeping in view the new dimensions, Chinese security strategy is based on protecting its ultimate national interests. Increased security cooperation with every country in Asia-Pacific region is an essential choice for developing Chinese security strategy in the Pacific region.

A. Basic Foundations of Chinese Security Strategy In Asia-Pacific Region

The basic foundations of Chinese security in Asia-Pacific region are security environment, national interests, social systems and diplomatic policy and above all well rooted concepts from history and culture of China.

The Judgment of Security Environment of China is the Premise of Making the Chinese Security Strategy

China is a big country with total land area of 9.6 million square kilometers and an  Exclusive Economic Zone of 4.73 million square kilometers. China’s land border is 22,800 kilometers long and 18,000 kilometers of the coast of the mainland. Since 1840, imperialist powers launched offensive against China from every direction of east, west, south and north. China is bordered by fifteen countries and across the seas to the east and southeast there are seven countries. Some of these countries have invaded China in the past; some of them have territorial disputes, while some have internal problems which affect their security. Geopolitically, China is located in the intermediate zone between the zone of the world sea, geographical strategy and the zone of Euro-Asia continent. China can have a great impact on the two big strategy zones, while its security environment is also affected by the big powers from the zones. Chinese relationship with US, Japan, Russia and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) will not only affect the Chinese security but also lead to security and stability of Asia-Pacific region in general and the world in particular.

China’s National Interest As the Highest Principle for Dealing with International Affair and Making Policy

The Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region has to be viewed from the angle of national strategy interest in the long term. First, China always puts the protecting national sovereignty, unifies integrated territory and security in first position. To protect national security it insists on unity, oppose disunion vehemently. Second, the long historic time, Chinese fundamental mission is to focus vigour for constructing socialism with modernization. Nation and the society in a developing strategy insists on putting economic construction as centre of all, it is the objective raised by main contradiction of Chinese society of today, is a key problem in deciding Chinese fate. Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region must conform and serve the total developing strategy of China, support constructing socialism and modernization in a smooth way. Third, China needs stability of domestic environment and peaceful international environment. Deng xiao Ping pointed out: China hopes for the world peace, regional peace, especially developing friendly relationship with Asian countries, become better friend which is not a temporary policy, but also is a strategic policy for long term. Chinese security strategies in Asia-Pacific region devotes itself to protecting peace and stability and enhancing, flourishing and for advancement of Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese Security Strategy In Close Relation With The Nature of Socialism System And the Internal and International Policy

China is a socialist country; it has therefore, chosen socialism as the basis fundamental for its government. Chinese government has always believed in an independent and peaceful diplomatic policy. Chinese security strategy is based on the basic interest of Chinese people, not for an alliance with any big power and national group; stand for peaceful and negotiated settlement of all its problems. It opposes hegemonies and stands for setting up a new order of international politics, which is just and suitable for developing friendly relations with all countries on the basis of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. However, from every aspect, China cannot threat and invade other countries. China has always believed in protecting world’s peace and regional stability.

Chinese Security Strategy is Rooted In her Cultural Traditions and History

China with five thousand years of history has formed excellent traditions of culture in its development. These traditions have had deep impact on its security strategy in Asia-Pacific region. These constitute the strategic deep historic base and basic value orientation. Chinese have the tradition of being a peace loving people. This, through military display was “no fight to stop the war”, stranded to deal with disputes with non-military means, stress cautiously in dealing with war and gain mastery by striking only after the enemy has struck. China has the tradition of unity and keeping all Chinese people together in peace and oneness. Chinese culture for long time is a firefly link supporting unity, Chinese fifty six nationalities and togetherness of nation. China has tradition of attaching importance to defence. The Great Wall was constructed by inside peasant of China for defence of outside nomadic nationalities of China. It always, is the symbol for defence, is not the symbol spring of supporting national unity and social stability and share a bitter hatred of outside enemy. Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region inherited and developed the tradition of peace, protecting  and unifying, stressing defence of historic culture.

B. The major elements of Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region

Chinese strategy in Asia-Pacific region can be summarized as “stability all around and have a foothold in Asia-Pacific region”. The basic elements of the strategy are: good-neighbourly policy, develop active friendly relations with countries in Asia-Pacific region, creating better periphery environment, rooting into Asia-Pacific region. On these basis, Chinese government has put the objective of security strategy in Asia-Pacific region as “Stability and prosperity of China, peace and stability of peripheral region, dialogue and co-operation with every country in Asia-Pacific region”. Chinese security strategy has three important cornerstones: keeping stability and development of China, establishing new security concepts, its cores are faith in each other, mutual benefit, enhancing economic and security cooperation. The basic character of Chinese are organic unity, peace in foreign policy on the basis of protecting national sovereignty and prosperity and developing nature of defence of military strategy and nature of cooperation of regional security.

Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region include following major elements:

a. Protecting national sovereignty and achieving national unity

This is the basic aim of Chinese foreign policy, it is also the ultimate objective of Chinese security strategy. The whole world must respect the sovereignty of China. The Chinese will only deal with problems the Chinese way and other countries should not interfere as they please. Taiwan is a part of China and cannot be separated. It is the Chinese sovereignty and territory and can never be separated. Dealing with Taiwan problem is Chinese internal affair, and will not allow under any

circumstances any foreign force or power to interfere as they please. The principle of mutual respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, non-aggression and non-interference in internal affairs of other nations affairs are essential ingredients of a peaceful coexistence of countries in Asia-Pacific region. The Five Principles of The Peaceful Coexistence and accepting the rule of international relationship are political basis of protecting peace of Asia-Pacific region.

b. Promoting and flourishing of ownself and enhancing comprehensive actual strength

At present China’s basic mission is focused on development of modern socialistic practices/policies for her social economic development. In her view, protection of national security and national interests are well-entrenched in the mind of Chinese people. China in her outlook towards the rest of the world is opposed to the use of force or imposing her point of view in the dealings in international affair. However, for a just role in the world she must have internal strength, viable and strong economy, higher level of defence capability and national spirit, this would guarantee China to win a position of stature in the world. A highly developed and prosperous will make powerful China, will not pose any threat to any country, but would make a valuable contribution towards the peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the world. The relationship between modernization, capability to enhance economic and assuring her defence capability are important determinates in the overall modernization process of China. In modern times it goes without saying that any development in defence production is directly dependent on economic development of the country. China, is therefore, pursuing a policy of developing her economy and industry, which would provide a strong and reliable base for increasing her defence potential.

c. Maintaining stability in our periphery and strive for peace of the world

Maintaining peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region and ensuring good periphery environment is ultimate objective of Chinese security strategy in the region. Being bigger developing country in Asia-Pacific region she realizes  importance of peace and stability. Diplomatic aim of China is to enhance mutual trust amongst neighbouring countries. China advocates actively in building new security environment based on mutual trust, coexistence, equality and cooperation. She believes in building good-neighbourly relations with peripheral countries on the basis of the Five Principles i.e. develop sound and stable relations with countries of Asia-Pacific, participate actively in regional economic cooperation on the basis of equality, support multi-lateral dialogue of co-operation, insist on resolving disputes through peaceful means and support mutual security through bilateral and multilateral dialogue without targeting any third country. In the context of overall world order China opposes the politics of power and hegemony, act of aggression and formation of military blocs/alliances. While striving for peace, stability and security of the region she is opposed to the concept of arms race and nuclear proliferation.

d. Maintaining independence, keeping initiative in her own hands and not forming an alliance with big power

The core of the foreign policy is peace and maintaining independence and keeping initiative in her own hands resting on national interests as basis for making policy, not ideology not forming alliance with any big power or alliance group. The thought is also a guiding policy of Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region. China only focuses on right or wrong of the issues, self and the basic interest of people of China and Asia-Pacific region to ensure and maintain independence and keep initiative in her own hands and to decide own position and countermeasures. Chinese policy of being independent and keeping initiative in her own hands, help preventing in emergence of single hegemonic situation, preventing a new political alliance group in Asia-Pacific region, keeping other countries in maintaining independence and keeping initiative in their hands, and protecting peace and security in Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, China emerged and consolidated national defence, though fully depended on self-defence, to protect national security, not joining any military bloc. Independent policy and strategic decision, and stressing on science and technology for national defence to develop weapon and equipment indigenously to meet all challenges of foreign and military fronts.

e. Insist on active defences and not seek absolute hegemony

China conducts defensive national policy and strategic military policy for active defence. Strategically, China pursues the principles for enhancing defensive operation, self-defence and gaining mastery by striking only after the enemy has struck. China never takes initiative or provokes incidents and pursues the policy “I will not offend others if none offends me, but I must counterattack once someone offends me”. This is not negativeness. There is offensive in it. This is organic unity of containment, hardly war, preparing to win the war of self-defence in peacetime and active offensive operation and tactics in wartime. So long as hegemonies and power politics exists, a nation must have capability of protecting sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security with military means. The modernization of national defence of China is completely for self-defence, and is necessary for protecting her country to safeguard its security. Finally, the size of armed forces decided by China is based on necessity of protecting national security and interests. The size should not be lower than necessary, and neither higher than the necessary. Judge a country if it threatens the peace of region and world, it is not important that it has strong nation, power, and military strength, but you must examine its conduct as to what kind of internal and international policy it pursues. China always does not have any hegemonic aims, however, it may become strong in future, also does not invade other countries. Chinese national defence policy and active defence strategy is to help protecting peace, security and stability in Asia-Pacific region.

C. Chinese  security strategy in Asia-Pacific region

In today’s world, peace and development are still theme of the time, the trend of world multi-polarity and economic globalization is gaining momentum. China must develop methods of security strategy of Asia-Pacific region, to start from the basic interests of China and objective reality, be good and sum up experiences and lessons, and give attention to the voice of people in Asia-Pacific Region.

a. Agenda of Multi-Polarity

Chinese President Jang Zhemin said, today’s world is becoming multi-polar. The time of one or two big countries and big countries group dominate world’s affair and decide other country’s fate has gone forever. The tendency of multi-polarity has advantage for world’s peace, stability and development, every country paddles her own canoe and economic enhancement, meanwhile provide essential support for diversifying and developing different cultures and value system. But there is a lot of contradiction and struggle in the process of evolution. After cold war, United States wants to build single polar world order and dominate the world. The tendency of consolidating military, using or threatening to use force are raising its head.

These are sources of frequent crisis developing in the world which is not desirable. China has signed Political Declaration of Enhancing Multi-Polarity Development with Russia and France. Base on this achievement, China should widen negotiation with Asia-Pacific countries, enhance development of regional multi-polarity, oppose United States  to monopolize security affairs of Asia-Pacific. China will strive for building new international political and economic stability, justice be the basis for establishing multi-polarity in of Asia Pacific region and world.

b. Setting up Stable Relationship with Big Countries

The one important demonstration of the world’s multi-polarity is that relationship between big countries has taken steps to adjust. Seeking a good relationship with big countries and balancing strategic force in Asia-Pacific is the basic mission of Chinese security strategy. Currently China, America, Japan, Russia and ASEAN are main countries playing important role. The move, towards better relations between China and America is of utmost importance for the whole world. China not only opposes hegemonies, but also develops relation with America. Setting up and developing stable relationship between China and America fulfil the basic interests of the two countries and contribute to peace and stability of Asia-Pacific region and the world. China and Russia have reached common recognized objectives of bilateral relationship and a series of other important international issues. Strategic partner relationship developed between China and Russia will become strategic force, maintaining Asia-Pacific stability. Learning historic lessons and facing future China and Japan have declared to set up friendly cooperation partner relation. This will be affecting active influence on Asia-Pacific region’s security. ASEAN has become an influencing organization in their region. China and ASEAN will promote more friendly cooperation on the principle of the mutual understanding and benefit in order to set up good-neighbourliness partner relationship facing 21st century, enhancing stability of the region.

c. Strengthening area of economic cooperation

 Mutually beneficial cooperation and common flourishment are economic foundations of maintaining peace. Area economic cooperation has become trend of today’s economic development pattern, changing trends cannot be reversed. Enhancing area economic cooperation not only contributes to economic development of whole area but also contributes to enhanced interdependence. After the 2nd World War, there was no war taking place in capitalist developed countries, because of one of the important reasons in the integrated economy. It was more interdependent to connect these countries to each other on economy. Being economic ally, interdependence increase greatly the cost to wage war, so that it creates important martial conditions for using no-war approach to solve contradiction and conflicts. Therefore,  ‘China actively takes part in enhancing economic cooperation in our region. Enhancing economic cooperation and trade-contacts is our firm and unshakable policy’. Enhancing area economic cooperation should be based on: mutual respect, negotiation for agreement, proceed progressively and develop stability, opening door to each other without exception, mutual benefit, bridge gap and see all encompassing progress.

d. Taking part in area security cooperation

One important mission of Chinese security strategy in Asia-Pacific region is enhancing bilateral security co-operation with countries dealing with issue of territorial dispute, taking active part in area multilateral security dialogue and cooperation agenda. Maintaining peace in the region, must give up the thought of Cold War. Develop security cooperation in different areas. The culture in Asia-Pacific region is multinational, multi-religion and pluralistic culture that has formed in a long time. Finally, establishing a security system which enhances peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region. It should be on the principles of taking equal part in: negotiating to achieve agreement; seeking common and keeping difference apart, going step by step. Must conduct bilateral and area security dialogue in multi-forms, multi-level and multi-channel according to real situation in the area; enhancing understanding and having faith in each other.

e. Opposing resolutely split force

Chinese policy of settlement of Taiwan issue is  ‘peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems’. But now there is a force from Taiwan and international society which is trying to separate Taiwan from motherland. So, China never promises to give up use of military force. ‘We don’t exclude using military force, we must remember this, and our next generation must remember this too. This is strategic vision of China. ‘No pledge to give up use of military force is a deterence to disunity, a breaker to restrict foreign interfering force, an indication of determination of Chinese people protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a showing for confidence of Chinese people for achieving reunification as great cause of motherland. No promise to give up use of military force requires military readiness and there is enough force in armed forces, more military preparedness. The military is strong, the effective role strategy is no promise to give up using military ploy. No promise to use of military force is for the purpose of promoting settlement in a peaceful way. Having ability for fighting provides opportunity for peaceful negotiation. Only using the courage and ability for fighting to deter the enemy in order to prevent war, this is cornerstone of Chinese philosophy of deterrence. Chinese people have determination, confidence, ability and ways to prevent any interference in achieving reunification as a great cause of motherland. This not only meets the basic interests of Chinese people but also benefits protecting peace and stability in Asia-Pacific region.

f. Achieving national defence modernization

National defence modernization is basis of national security. The contradiction between objective requirement of defence modernization, the lower level of the armed forces modernization decide that Chinese national defence should be built around modernization. The development of China’s national defence modernization should be taking the way with Chinese characteristics and traits, depending on actual situation of China for the cause of the national defence modernization, the key is science and technological modernization of national defence, the modernization of armed forces, especial military force being a focal point. The science and technology of national defence must go ahead, to continue enhancing modernization of weapon and equipment of providing advanced material technologic basis of modernization of armed forces. Meanwhile, must take a good stock of the modernization development of talented men, structure mobilization, doctrine and legal system of national defence so that it overall improves the composite real strength of national defence. Downsizing quantity and improving quality is a basic guideline for modernization of military forces. China’s PLA adheres to building the armed forces by enhancing their quality, strengthening the armed forces by relying on science and technology and managing the armed forces according to law, and is endeavouring to transform its armed forces from a numerically superior to a qualitatively superior type, and from a manpower-intensive to a technology-intensive type, building a lean and strong military force in the Chinese way. Build a modernized national defence suiting the security and interests of national defence, a strong military force to suit the position of China in order to deal with and always win no matter where it takes place in any emergent event.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior Colonel LinKejian is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Military Science in Beijing. During the long service of 32 years, the officer served in various instructional and research assignments in various seats of higher learning in China. He has a lot of research achievements to his credit, the latest being the translation of “The Art of the War in the Western World” in Chinese. The officer is presently attending National Defence Course in National Defence College at Islamabad.