By Zhang Dan
Living in a peaceful environment is a good fortune for people around the world, and preserving peace is the incumbent duty of the military. By taking part in the UN peacekeeping missions, carrying out ocean-going escort missions, and providing humanitarian aid, the Chinese armed forces are actively making contributions to preserving world peace while resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Chinese nation loves peace by nature
The Chinese nation is always a peace-loving nation. Having suffered greatly from invasion and the scourge of war in modern times, the Chinese people feel more keenly the value of peace and the urgency of development, and would never impose upon others what they have suffered themselves. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country has never waged a war or conflict; since it launched the reform and opening-up, it has been dedicated to promoting world peace and actively fulfilling its responsibilities as a major country.
Peace is the indelible legacy left by the Chinese military as it marches to the international stage. White Paper China’s National Defense in the New Era states that China will pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.China advocates addressing international disputes, hotspot issues, and difficulties through dialogues, consultations, and peaceful means, and opposes arbitrary use or threat of use of forces. The Chinese armed forces have also undertaken more international responsibilities and obligations within their capacity and provided more public security goods.
Chinese armed forces act on their vow of preserving peace
The Chinese armed forces, which are soon to embrace their 95th anniversary, have always practiced their vow to preserve world peace with concrete actions.
As the second largest peacekeeping fund contributor and fee contributor at the UN and the largest peacekeeper contributor in the UN Security Council, China has participated in more than 20 UN peacekeeping operations in the past 30-plus years. At the moment, more than 2,000 Chinese servicemembers are working at seven peacekeeping mission areas and the UN Headquarters. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, commented that China has played a vital role in enhancing the influence and performance of the peacekeeping cause.
The escort taskforces represent the friendship China extends to the world and a window of peace China opens toward the world. In the past 14 years, the PLA Navy has assigned 41 escort taskforces to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somalian coast, where they have escorted more than 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships in about 1,500 batches cumulatively, fulfilling China’s responsibilities as a major country with concrete actions.
In recent years, the Chinese military has carried out multiple joint exercises, training, and contests with foreign militaries and intensified military and security cooperation. The “Peace Mission 2021” joint anti-terror military exercise held at Donguz training range in Russia last year marked the 14th time that the Chinese military participated in the SCO joint exercise. By continuously taking actions beneficial to the world, the Chinese military has proved itself to be a mighty and civilized force committed to peace.
Chinese military lives up to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind
From seeking security for itself to promoting common security, the Chinese military has actively performed its responsibilities and obligations commensurate with China’s international standing and made positive contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
It has taken an active part in the international anti-pandemic cooperation after COVID-19 broke out and swept across the world. In 2021, the Chinese military provided COVID-19 vaccines and aid to the militaries of more than 30 countries. Its pragmatic measures in the global fight against the pandemic, from fulfilling international obligations to providing public security goods, have been highly acclaimed by the international society.
In recent years, senior officials of the Chinese military have had frequent mutual visits with their foreign counterparts and established defense and security consultation mechanisms with surrounding countries in the joint endeavor to cope with various international and regional security challenges. At the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June 2022, the Chinese military delegation conducted an intense series of military diplomacy activities with the aim of making friends, forging friendly relations, and building mutual trust.
Today Chinese servicemembers are seen on the frontline of disaster rescue and relief, on the cutting edge of defending peace, and at the center of many events commonly concerned by the international community. The Chinese armed forces stand ready to provide the world with public security products and services, delivering its mission of safeguarding world peace.
The dream of the Chinese people and the dream of people in the rest of the world are intertwined. A peaceful, stable and prosperous China offers opportunities and benefits for the world, and a powerful Chinese military adds a staunch force for preserving world peace and stability and building the community with a shared future for mankind. Going forward, the Chinese military will make greater contributions to world peace and provide stronger support for ensuring a bright future for the whole humanity.
