Jul 21, 2011

China’s Regional and International Security Strategy

            Consultation and dialogue was identified as the key attributes of the Chinese defence and security strategy by Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Liang Guanglie at a speech during the fourth plenary session of the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asian Security Summit: Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, on June 5, 2011.  Dialogue, joint exercise, training and treaties to build confidence remains the major Chinese mechanism for building trust. China has consultation and dialogue mechanisms on defence and security with 22 countries, and has military-to-military exchanges with more than 150 countries, Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie said.

　　The Chinese military has held more than 40 joint exercises and training with more than 20 other countries for purposes such as anti-terrorism and disaster relief. It also provided aid where it can, joined more than 20 United Nations peace missions, and sent professional rescuers to countries hit by natural disasters like quakes and tsunamis, Liang said. The Chinese defence minister outlined four principles for advancing security cooperation in the Asia Pacific.

·         Mutual respect, equal footing, and consideration for the core interests and key concerns of others.

·         Advance mutual understanding, trust and assess the strategic intention of other countries as it is.

·         Pursue mutual benefits and win-win outcome, and no alliance directed against a third party.

·         Cooperation should be open and inclusive, and all countries are welcome to contribute to Asia Pacific security.

　　    Despite these pontifications, China and Vietnam relations were strained in the South China Sea when Vietnam conducted a military exercise in an "exclusive economic maritime zone" over which it claims sovereignty. China claims that in an official statement issued in 1958, the Chinese government had clearly claimed these islands in the South China Sea as part of China's sovereign territory, and then Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong also expressed agreement.

            Similarly China has warned that, "Japan-U.S. alliance is a bilateral arrangement created under special historical conditions and should not go beyond its bilateral scope," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news briefing responding to Japanese and US call for the country to play a role in regional security.