The new white paper repeatedly underlines the national defense policy defensive in nature and the implementation of the military strategic principle of "active defense." What are the intrinsic ties between the "defensive" defense policy and the strategic principle of "active defense?"

The nature of China's defense policy is to defend the motherland and the peaceful labor of its people, as specified in the Chinese Constitution. The defensive nature of China's national defense is manifested in its basic purpose to safeguard the security and unity of the nation, to ensure the materialization of a relatively affluent society. The growth of China's national defense and military strength will absolutely not pose a threat to the peace and security in the country's surrounding areas.

China adheres firmly to its strategic defense, self-defense and to striking only after the enemy or adversary has attacked policy. "We will not attack unless we are attacked; if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack" as a popular Chinese saying goes. But this kind of defense is not passive, since there are also attacks involved when people are on the defensive.

Could you elaborate your understanding of China's national defense policy of a defensive nature, in the light of the national road for peaceful development?

In implementing China's defense policy of a defensive nature, due consideration should be given to the backdrop of globalization, which has deepened the ties of interest forged among nations, Every nation has to consider the interests of others as well as the common interests of all nations in the course of pursuing its own interests. And in this case, China is no exception.

China has never been related so closely to the world as it is today. The country will be impacted by the international strategic environment to a greater extent, while also being expected to contribute still more positively to global peace and stability. The great revitalization of the Chinese nation can be materialized only when it is capable of integrating the fundamental interests of its people with that of the people worldwide. China shall never seek expansion or pursue hegemony either at present or in the future, no matter how developed it becomes.