By Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, Deputy Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND
(The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)
I have two pieces of news to announce at the top.
First, the Chinese PLA Army has sent troops to Austria to participate in the international mountain infantry competition Edelweiss Raid 2023, which will be held from February 27 to March 2. This competition will help deepen friendly and practical cooperation between the Chinese and Austrian militaries and promote exchanges and mutual trust between the Chinese military and other participating militaries.
Second, the PLA Army Engineering University is hosting a mine-sweeping training course under the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) in Nanjing via video link. The event lasts from February 21 to 24. Chinese and foreign experts gave lectures and had seminars on policies, regulations and standards concerning international landmine-related issues, organization and management of mine-sweeping operations, HMA methods, and technical equipment and personnel training. Representatives from 17 ADMM-Plus countries, the ASEAN Secretariat , the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center and the International Committee of the Red Cross attended the event online.
This course is jointly hosted by China and Cambodia as co-chairs of ADMM-Plus EWG on HMA. It will help the EWG to play a greater role in coordinating and addressing regional mine problems, and strengthen practical cooperation among member countries and institutions in non-traditional security fields.
Question: This year marks the 60th anniversary of the inscription for Comrade Lei Feng by veteran Chinese revolutionaries including Chairman Mao Zedong. The Chinese military will carry out a series of activities as arranged to inspire officers and soldiers to carry forward revolutionary traditions and the Lei Feng spirit. What are the arrangements?
Answer: Lei Feng was a great communist soldier trained and tempered in the melting pot of the people’s military. Over the past six decades, inspired by the inscriptions and directives made by the leading comrades of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping, service members of the Chinese military have taken learning the Lei Feng spirit and being successors of Lei Feng as an important political responsibility, and carried out various activities in accordance with the changing times to learn from Lei Feng. These activities helped to improve political work of the armed forces, cultivated many generations of exemplary soldiers like Lei Feng, and provided a strong mental impetus for effectively performing military missions. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the activities of learning from Lei Feng in the military have been in full swing following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, and the Lei Feng spirit has been shining in our times of striving to build a strong military and make new progress.
The year 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the inscriptions for Comrade Lei Feng by the veteran revolutionaries including Chairman Mao Zedong. In order to thoroughly study, promote and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, implement the important directives of President Xi Jinping on carrying forward the Lei Feng spirit, and continue to advance activities of learning from Lei Feng, relevant departments of the military will carry out a series of activities as follows.
First, to jointly hold a symposium on "Passing down the spirit of Lei Feng from generation to generation – Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the inscriptions for Comrade Lei Feng by Mao Zedong and other veteran revolutionaries" in collaboration with relevant departments including the CPC Publicity Department of the in Beijing in late February.
Second, to organize representatives of military and civilian youth models to visit the tomb of Lei Feng in Fushun, Liaoning Province on the morning of March 1 in collaboration with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLCCC).
Third, to hold a small symposium focusing on "how to carry forward the spirit of Lei Feng in the new era and on the new journey" in the troop unit where Lei Feng ever served on the afternoon of March 1 in collaboration with the CYLCCC Publicity Department.
Fourth, the People's Armed Forces Department (PAFD) of Wangcheng District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, usingits advantage as the hometown of Lei Feng, will launch commemorative activities on the morning of March 5 to guide local youths to join the military, and promote and carry forward the Lei Feng spirit.
Fifth, to carry out extensive mass commemorative activities in the military themed "Passing down the Lei Feng spirit from generation to generation", including publicizing the exemplary deeds of learning from Lei Feng among the officers and soldiers and organizing seminars on practicing the Lei Feng spirit and building a strong military. It will help guide the service members to strengthen faith and dedication, improve training and readiness, and uphold virtues and good behaviors, and pave the way for holding the activities of learning from Lei Feng on a regular basis.
The Lei Feng spirit is an immortal monument, and there is no end to practicing the Lei Feng spirit. The Chinese military will, in combination with the study and implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and focusing on achieving the military’s centenary goal, deepen and expand activities of learning from Lei Feng, so as to carry forward the Lei Feng spiritfrom generation to generation.
Question: According to media reports, US White House officials recently said that China's surveillance balloon was a serious violation of US sovereignty and airspace. US defense officials said that China remains a "pacing challenge" and China is using its economic, diplomatic, military and technological might to try to become the most influential power in the world. What is your comment on this?
Answer: China firmly opposes irresponsible remarks made by some American individuals in disregard of facts. The real challenge and threat to security and stability in the world and the region is the arrogant and erroneous worldview and the narrow zero-sum security mindset of some countries.
The Chinese nation believes in peaceful development and mutual benefits. It is a nation that advocates righteousness and upholds justice, as vividly reflected by The River All Red (a poem by Yue Fei), and Song of Righteousness (a poem by Wen Tianxiang). We are different from those who secretly play power politics in the House of Cards. For a long time, China has actively fulfilled its international responsibilities and promoted world peace and stability. We did notflex muscles around the world through military operations, nor inflict wars and chaos on other countries. Time has proven and will continue to prove that the Chinese military is always a staunch force in implementing the Global Security Initiative and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
As stated in the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war , we must "practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors ". We hope those who stick to the zero-sum Cold War mentality would take more time to read through the UN Charter, and listen to the voices of the international community, correct their false perception of China and make fewer scaremongering remarks.
Question: The Wall Street Journal recently quoted a report submitted by the US Strategic Command to the US Congress saying that China currently has more land-based launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles than the US. Some Japanese media says that China plans to significantly increase its nuclear warheads by 2027. Once China achieves its goal of military modernization, it would probably give up its commitment to no-first-use of nuclear weapons . What is your comment?
Answer: The relevant reports are irresponsible and not true. China firmly follows a self-defensive nuclear strategy , the goal of which is to maintain national strategic security by deterring other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China. China adheres to the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and has made a clear promise of not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones. China’s nuclear policy is highly stable, consistent and predictable. China will not engage in any nuclear arms race with other countries and will keep its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security.
The US has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world and is still investing heavily in upgrading its nuclear triad , developing low-yield nuclear weapons, lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, and strengthening its nuclear umbrella. The US has repeatedly hyped up the so-called "China nuclear threat", only to seek excuses for expanding its own nuclear arsenal and maintaining military hegemony. China urges relevant parties to stop the hype, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, adopt the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, take their special and primary responsibilities for nuclear disarmament seriously, and take concrete actions to maintain global strategic stability.
Question: The navies of China, Russia and South Africa are having the second joint maritime exercise in waters and airspace near South Africa in recent days. Please detail it.
Answer: According to the consensus reached by China, Russia and South Africa, the three navies are having the second joint maritime exercise in waters and airspace to the east of the coast from Durban to Richards Bay, South Africa. The exercise lasts from February 20 to 27, and Brazil has been invited for the first time to observe. The theme of the exercise is the joint operation to protect safety of shipping and maritime economic activities . The PLA Navy (PLAN) sent PLANS Huainan, PLANS Rizhao and PLANS Kekexilihu to participate. The exercise will further improve defense and security cooperation among BRICS countries and enhance the capabilities of participating nations in jointly safeguarding maritime security.
Question: According to media reports, the PLA Navy’s guided-missile destroyer Nanning recently went to Pakistan for the multinational maritime exercise AMAN-23. Could you tell us more about it?
Answer: At the invitation of the Pakistani Navy, the PLA Navy sent PLANS Nanning to Karachi, Pakistan, to participate in the multinational maritime exercise AMAN-23 from February 9 to 14. During the exercise, the Chinese naval troops participated in maritime drills on replenishment-at-sea, joint counter-piracy operations, livefiring at sea, and port and shore activities including international maritime conference, professional exchanges, and open ship events. The exercise promoted maritime exchanges and coordination between the PLAN and other participating navies, demonstrated their resolve to jointly preserve maritime security, and enhanced their capabilities in jointly tackling maritime security threats.
Participating vessels head to the mission waters. (Photo by Wu Kangci)
A ship-borne helicopter takes off from the deck for an overflight mission. (Photo by Wu Yuqian)
Sailors man the rail during the fleet review. (Photo by Liu Zhehao)
Question: It is reported that the PLA Army recently sent a contingent to participate in the joint exercise Cobra Gold 2023 in Thailand. Could you tell us more?
Answer: From February 9 to March 10, the PLA Southern Theater Command Army sent a contingent to Thailand to participate in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise underthe multinational Exercise Cobra Gold 2023. Since 2014, the PLA has participated in the last ten iterations of the Cobra Gold. This year, the exercise includes engineering assistance, a HADR tabletop exercise, a high-level forum, as well as live drills under the scenarios of building collapse, hazardous substances leakage, medical first aid, and fire rescue. The exercise will help promote exchanges on rescue and disaster relief between the Chinese and foreign militaries and further advance practical cooperation in relevant fields.
Question: It is reported that during US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent visit to the Philippines, the two sides agreed to designate four additional military bases in the Philippines for the US troops and re-start joint patrols in the South China Sea. What’s your comment?
Answer: The Chinese side has paid close attention to and is highly concerned about this movement. It is our consistent position that defense and security cooperation between relevant countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability without targeting at or being harmful to the interests of any third party. As the US side continues to strengthen military presence and promote bloc confrontation, there will be more trust deficit, tensions and hostilities in this region. This move proves again that the US side is the biggest source of danger and chaos that fuels tensions and disrupts regional peace and stability. We hope that regional countries can see through America’s true purpose of maintaining its own hegemony and not be dragged into the wrong path of bloc confrontation and zero-sum game.
Question: According to media reports, the PLA Navy recently participated in the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Please tell us more.
Answer: At the invitation of the UAE military, the PLA Navy sent PLANS Nanning to participate in the NAVDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from February 17 to 25. During the exhibition, PLANS Nanning will have seminars, mutual visits, sports competitions and other friendly exchange activities with the UAE Navy and participating vessels from other countries. It will also have an Open Day for the public.
Question: It is reported that the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Central Military Commission (CMC ) has recently issued the Notice on Carrying out Military Administrative Litigation Work, which laid down specific provisions on the general requirements, main contents, organization and leadership of the military administrative lawsuit. Could you please give further information on the main considerations and related progress in this regard?
Answer: Since the 18th CPC National Congress, President Xi and the CMC have attached great importance to the law-based administration of military affairs, and made a series of major decisions and arrangements on promoting law-based and rigorous military governance. In 2015, the CMC made “exploring the establishment of the military administrative lawsuit system” an important task of the military judicial system reform. Carrying out military administrative litigation work is a major step to comprehensively implement the strategy of running the armed forces in accordance with the law and also a meaningful exploration to form a rigorous system of overseeing the exercise of power and keeping it in check.
Since July 2017, with the approval of the CMC, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission has launched pilot programs of the military administrative litigation in the martial courts of Beijing, Guangzhou and other cities and achieved remarkable results. First, it promotes centralized leadership in the military. Judicial means are adopted to oversee the military units of various levels in acting on the decisions and instructions made by the CPC Central Committee, the CMC and President Xi, strictly implementing military laws and policies and ensuring the smooth execution of military orders and decrees.
Second, it can advance law-based administration of military affairs. It is designed to establish and improve the mechanism of judicial supervision over the exercise of power, so as to oversee and check how the military organs, especially leading officers, fulfill their duties and exercise their power, urge the leading organs to improve their capability of making decisions, conducting administration, managing troops and performing duties in accordance with the law, and boost fundamental transformations in the way our military is run.
Third, it can maintain security and stability of the armed forces. It is designed to take advantage of the neutral, impartial and authoritative judicial rulings, combined with education and management, to settle conflicts and disputes and protect servicemembers’ legal rights and interests to the largest extent; bring into full play the litigation’s functions of settling disputes and educational guidance, to provide the legal guarantee for reducing administrative disputes, removing risks and hidden problems, and enhancing the armed forces’ cohesion and combat capability.
Going forward, the martial courts at all levels will, as per the requirements of the Notice, fully exert the functional roles of military administrative litigation and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of military trials, so as to provide a strong legal guarantee for strengthening the military.
Question: The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency recently claimed that the PLA has been ordered to get ready for attacking Taiwan before 2027. In contrast, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs said at a Congress hearing that he was confident that the Chinese mainland won’t make any major “aggression” against Taiwan before 2030. Meanwhile, US Air Force Chief of Staff said he didn’t think the mainland’s aggression of Taiwan is pressing or inevitable. What’s your comment, please?
Answer: We’ve noticed that the US side often makes such self-contradictory remarks. I want to emphasize that Taiwan is part of China and resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people and should be decided by the Chinese people. It brooks no foreign interference. No matter what the US side says, it won’t change the course of China’s reunification, nor will it shake our resolve and will to safeguard national reunification and territorial integrity.
The people living on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are brothers and sisters of one big family. This bond is stronger than any other relations. We will strive for a peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost effort. This being said, if the Democratic Progressive Party authorities insists on going down the wrong path of colluding with foreign forces, making provocations for “Taiwan independence”, and heightening cross-strait confrontation, or even endangering the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, the PLA will speak with actions and take necessary measures to defeat any “Taiwan independence” secessionist moves and foreign interference, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the immediate interests of people living across the Strait.
