By Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, Deputy Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND
Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on April 27, 2023. (Photo/mod.gov.cn)
(The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)
Question: Chinese President Xi Jinping recently held talks with visiting Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The two sides released a joint statement and agreed to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of peace and security. Please brief us on the exchanges between the Chinese and Gabonese militaries and the direction of future cooperation.
Answer: President Xi Jinping held talks with Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was on a state visit to China, on April 19. The two heads of state reached extensive and important consensuses, and decided to upgrade the China-Gabon comprehensive cooperative partnership to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
China and Gabon enjoy a rock-solid friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have consistently and steadfastly supported each other in preserving common interests of the two countries and international fairness and justice. The mil-to-mil cooperation is an important part of bilateral ties. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the relationship between Chinese and Gabonese militaries has seen substantial progress. The cooperation between the two sides in personnel training, equipment and technology, medical service, and other areas has yielded remarkable results. The Chinese military stands ready to work with the Gabonese side to earnestly fulfill the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, intensify high-level exchanges, and actively carry out all-round pragmatic cooperation, so as to uplift both the level and quality of mil-to-mil relations and make positive contributions to international and regional peace and stability.
Question: As reported, the Regulations on the Administration of Military Ribbons has come into force since January 1, 2023. So far, all the military units have begun to wear the new military ribbons in orderly progress. Please share with us more information.
Answer: President Xi Jinping, also Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), signed the order to promulgate the Regulations on Military Ribbons, which has come into force on January 1, 2023. As the first important regulatory document to comprehensively and systematically manage military ribbons, the Regulations takes Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guidance, implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and the overall requirements of the reform of military policies and institutions, focuses on the military's main duty and task of combat preparedness, and integrates itself into the system of military honors and awards. It emphasizes both historical inheritance and innovative development, incorporates both the Chinese military's distinctive features and practices of foreign militaries, and builds a comprehensive military ribbon management system featuring rich connotation, distinctive features, clear-cut value orientation and reflection of meritorious services. The promulgation and implementation of the Regulations will help further enhance the attractiveness of military career as well as the sense of mission and honor of service members, and create a good atmosphere of cherishing honor, advocating heroes and striving to be pioneers.
The main innovative content of the Regulations include the following seven aspects. First, it enriches the connotation and denotation of military ribbons. It has learned from common practices of foreign militaries while absorbing and inheriting the useful experience of the Chinese military's honor and commendation system since the founding of the People's Republic of China. It has also retained some basic elements of the Type-07 rank-and-service ribbon rack, while giving a more comprehensive reflection of the honors and meritorious deeds, and service and experiences of service members.
Second, it realizes the explicitation of military honors. It is a way to further enhance the service members' sense of honor and pride by presenting the individual honors, service experience, military rank and service time via identifiable ribbons.
Third, it highlights the revolutionary traditions of the Chinese military. The design of theribbonsfeatures wide use of the red, yellow and green colors, which respectivelysymbolize revolution, victory, and peace. Decorations like red flag, five stars, the Great Wall, and guns, are applied to further manifest the connotation of the ribbons and make them more identifiable.
Fourth, it specifies markers for position classification and grade. According to the requirements of the career development and management of officers, the classifications and position grades of commanding-and-administrative officers and specialized-and-technical officers are marked on the ribbons.
Fifth, it adopts a new order of precedence. Different from the Type-07 ribbon system, in which the number of rows is determined by the position grade, the number of rows on the new rack is based on the actual number of the ribbons. This could mark the honors of the service member more objectively and accurately.
Sixth, it employs IT management methods. The CMC Training and Administration Department developed a system for the arrangement of the ribbons. Military units at all levels are required to establish management data bases to provide query service for individuals to wear the ribbons correctly.
Seventh, it regularizes the whole process management of military ribbons. The design, supply, awarding, wearing and recovery of the ribbons have been clearly regulated to realize whole-process, closed-loop management.
Question: It is reported that the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) recently organized a series of publicity and education activities to celebrate its birthday under the theme of “Set Sail for a New Era and Forge Ahead on a New Journey”, which attracted wide attention from the public. Please brief us on more details.
Answer: On the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the PLAN, naval organsand units at differentlevels held a series of themed and diversified publicity and education activities. First, these activities fully reflected confidence and openness. On April 23, a ceremony to salute heroes of the people's navy was held at the PLA Naval Museum in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Open day activities were held in 62 navy barracks in 22 cities, and around 80,000 civilians from all walks of society visited the barracks and warships to gain an on-site perception of the brilliant achievements of the PLAN in the past 74 years.
Second, these activities firmly demonstrated determination to win. Along with the activities, the PLAN publicized a theme promotional video titled Operation JIAO LONG (SeaDragon), which vividly shows naval troops' new look of being loyal, united, perseverant and brave.Officers and men of the PLANcelebrated a PLAN Day combat style by staying on their combat posts andconducting combat readiness training.
Third, these activities widely spread the vision of peace. From April 22 to 24, 46 foreign naval attachés or defense attachés in charge of naval affairs from 41 countries were invited to Qingdao to visit the PLA Naval Museum, Naval Submarine Academy and guided-missile destroyer PLANS Kai Feng, which deepened their understanding of China's national defense and military development in the new era, especially those concerning the Chinese navy.
We have been striding forward on the grand path of building a strong military for ten years. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with President Xi Jinping at its core, the PLA Navy has entered the era of three aircraft carriers. It ramps up efforts to develop new combat forces in new domains, accelerates the cultivation of new types of talents, carries out operations in a firm but flexible manner, continuously realizes leapfrog development and innovative breakthroughs, and grows into an important force to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. With confidence and determination, the PLAN is cleaving waves towards the blue waters and striving to reach the goal of building a world-class navy in all respects.
Question: The US recently released its report on 2023 Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, accusing China of lacking transparency in nuclear testing activities, conducting sensitive biological military activities, proliferating missile technology, among other things. What's your comment, please?
Answer: These accusations in the US report are totally groundless, fabricated and are deliberate smears against China. We are firmly opposed to this. In the fields of arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament, the US side in recent years has followed a selective and utilitarian approach, and adopted double standards that only differentiate between friends and foes, regardless of right or wrong. As for nuclear nonproliferation, it constantly shifted the blame, shirked its responsibility, and even withdrew from treaties and organizations.
As the only country that blocked the BWC verification protocol negotiations, the US has built over 100 biological laboratories around the world. It plans to develop new-type nuclear warheads, cooperates with the UK and Australia on nuclear submarines, and advances its military programs in outer space and cyberspace. These actions have seriously eroded global and regional strategic stability, and gravely hindered multilateral arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament process.
China firmly upholds the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, commits to true multilateralism and faithfully fulfills its international obligations and commitments by taking solid actions to preserve the international arms control and nonproliferation system. We urge the US side to reflect on itself rather than pointing fingers at others, and earnestly address the international community's legitimate concerns over its compliance issue.
Question: It is reported that in the joint statement issued after the recent US-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the US and the Philippines expressed objections to China's maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea, and vowed to accelerate the deployment of new American military bases in the Philippines. What’s your comment, please?
Answer: China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and their adjacent waters, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters. China's infrastructure construction and deployment of necessary defensive forces on certain islands and reefs in the South China Sea are exercise of its national sovereignty in accordance with the law, which is absolutely legitimate and lawful. Other countries are in no position to make irresponsible remarks on this. China has repeatedly expressed stern concern over the US development of new military bases in the Philippines. At present, the US side continues to strengthen its military deployment in the South China Sea, and intentionally stokes regional tension, to which regional countries should stay on high alert. The Chinese military will continue to resolutely defend the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Question: It's reported that according to Japan's latest Diplomatic Bluebook, China's international influence is increasing, and China's external posture and military development are highly concerned by Japan and the international community, posing " the biggest strategic challenge ever" to Japan. What's your comment on this?
Answer: We firmly oppose Japan distorting facts and spreading the so-called “China threat” cliché. China's development and growth strengthen the world's forces for peace, because China firmly follows a path of peaceful development, resolutely upholds international fairness and justice, and is committed to making active contributions to world peace and stability.
In recent years, under the pretext of so-called “China threat”, Japan has repeatedly breached constraints of the pacifist constitution, and its commitment to the exclusively defense-oriented policy. It increased again and again itsdefense budget, frequently purchased high-end offensive weapons, and sought "strike capabilities against the enemy". Japan's tendency to re-pursue the path of militarization has gotten increasingly evident, triggering high vigilance from the international community and regional countries. China urges Japan to deeply reflect on the history of its aggression, earnestly respect the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, act prudently on military and security issues, and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability.
Question: According to reports, a group of US defense companies will visit Taiwan in early May to discuss issues such as joint production of drones and ammunition. What’s your comment on this?
Answer: We have noticed relevant reports and are seriously concerned about this. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no foreign interference. These American military-industrial complexes have always been zealous to peddle weapons and export conflicts and chaos around the world to reap staggering profits. The Democratic Progressive Party's act of inviting wolves into the house is rather contemptible, which would only bring untold disaster to the Taiwan compatriots.
What needs to be emphasized is that no individualor force can shake our determination and will to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor can they hold back the historical and inevitable trend of China's reunification. We strongly urge the US to fully recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question as well as the complexity and severity of the current situation across the Taiwan Strait, adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, stop interfering in the Taiwan question, stop arms sales to the Taiwan region as well as its military contact with the island. The PLA troops always follow closely the situation across the Taiwan Strait , stay on high alert all the time, and will take necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely counter any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities as well as external interference, and firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
