On June 1, at the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue, Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), made a key-note speech on the Asian security concept. The speech provided a comprehensive summary of the understanding within the PLA of the issue.
At the fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, in Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forth the Security Concept for Asia to promote common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. This concept, which is a profound summary of Asia's historical experience as well as a cherished aspiration for Asia's future, has been widely acclaimed by Asian countries. Asia today is in a critical period of development as it is increasingly becoming a community of common interest, destiny and responsibility. The stability of Asia is a blessing for world peace and the rejuvenation of Asia is a boon for world development.
The security of China is closely linked to that of Asia. China advocates and implements the Asian security concept in earnest, and stands ready to work with other countries to pursue Asian security that is established, shared by, and beneficial to all. China is a constructive, proactive and positive force for Asia's peace and security.
China pursues the path of peaceful development. Peaceful development is a strategic choice as well as a long-term and abiding strategy, based on China's historical and cultural traditions, historical experience, lessons learned from the rise of major powers in the past, the reality of our time and China's fundamental interests. China stands for open development, cooperative development and win-win development. China strives for self-development through maintaining a peaceful international environment, and in turn contributes to regional and world peace with its own development. China is committed to building a harmonious Asia as well as an amicable world of lasting peace and common prosperity. China will never contend for or seek hegemony and foreign expansion. China's adherence to peaceful development is its major contribution to security in Asia. The tremendous achievement of China's peaceful development constitutes a positive factor in maintaining Asian peace.
China upholds the banner of justice and fairness. China believes that all nations, regardless of size, wealth or strength, should have the right to independently choose their own social systems and paths of development. We must learn from others to offset our own shortcomings, and oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs. All countries should enjoy equal participation in regional security affairs. We must strengthen coordination on the basis of mutual respect, and oppose attempts by any country to dominate regional security affairs. All countries should respect and accommodate the legitimate security concerns of others and enjoy common security through mutual accommodation. We oppose the strengthening of military alliances against third parties, the threat or use of force, or seeking so-called absolute security at the cost of the security of others.
China advocates dialogue and cooperation. China maintains that all countries should enhance strategic mutual trust, overcome misgivings and coexist in harmony through dialogue and communication. We should continuously strengthen and expand areas of cooperation, take innovative approaches, and seek and promote peace and security through cooperation. All countries should respect each other's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and resolve disputes peacefully through negotiations.
China stands for coordinated progress of security and development. In China's view, development lays the foundation for security, which in turn provides the conditions for development. Development is the most important security and the master key to resolving Asia's security issues. China pursues a diplomacy that aims at harmony, security and prosperity for its neighbors. China practices the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. We work to promote the sound interaction of regional economic cooperation and security cooperation, and to maintain both traditional and non-traditional security in a coordinated way. In 2013, China contributed almost 30 percent of the world's economic growth and over 50 percent of growth in Asia. China will continue to promote sustainable security through sustainable development, and work with other countries for lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
China always pursues a defense policy that is defensive in nature. The PLA is endeavoring to contribute to maintaining regional security.
We actively conduct friendly military exchanges and cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries. China's military-to-military cooperation with other Asia-Pacific countries is showing unprecedented dynamism. We have established defense consultation and dialogue mechanisms with 13 neighboring countries. In recent years, we have held more than 50 joint exercises and drills with other Asia-Pacific countries. Sound momentum has been witnessed in high-level visits, professional exchanges and personnel training. Overall, our military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region covers all dimensions, broad areas and multiple levels. We continue to add to the security content of the comprehensive strategic coordinative partnership with Russia, build a new model of military-to-military relationship with the United States, and enhance friendly military security cooperation with India and other major Asia-Pacific countries. Robust military cooperation among major powers plays an important role in maintaining regional security.
We participate extensively in regional multilateral defense and security cooperation. We are actively engaged in security cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, ADMM-plus, the ASEAN Regional Forum and China-ASEAN framework. We make joint efforts to fight terrorism, extremism and separatism, conduct disaster relief operations, safeguard the security of land and sea routes and promote security architecture in line with the common interests of regional countries. Not long ago, we successfully hosted the biennial meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, when participants agreed on a revised version of the Code for Unalerted Encounters at Sea, contributing to the prevention of accidents at sea in the region.
We are committed to properly handling disputes over territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. China has settled land border demarcation with 12 of its 14 neighbors and completed the delimitation of the Beibu Gulf with Vietnam. The PLA has set up 64 border meeting stations. Chinese border troops held more than 2,000 meetings with neighboring border troops in these stations in 2013. We are actively engaged in maintaining maritime security and stability in neighboring areas. China and Vietnam have carried out 16 joint patrols of the Beibu Gulf. In 2002, China and ASEAN countries signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and jointly set forth the principle that all disputes over territory and jurisdiction should be resolved peacefully through friendly consultation and negotiations between sovereign states directly involved in the disputes. The PLA actively supports the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct and pushes forward consultation on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, with a view to maintaining security and stability in the South China Sea. While firmly safeguarding its sovereignty and legitimate interests, China has demonstrated utmost sincerity and patience in its commitment to settling disputes peacefully through consultations and negotiations with the parties involved. China has never threatened to use force, and has never taken provocative actions. We will never accept provocation by others under the pretext of "Proactive Contribution to Peace" that stirs up tensions for selfish interests.
We work hard to deliver the public benefits of security. In the aftermath of disasters, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the PLA promptly dispatched professional disaster relief forces and a naval hospital ship to participate in the relief missions. Since early 1990s, we have participated in 24 UN peacekeeping operations. In 1992, we dispatched the first non-combat unit to Cambodia. In 2013, we committed the first force-protection unit to Mali. In all, the PLA has provided more than 25,000 peacekeepers, making China the largest troop contributing country among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Since the end of 2008, we have dispatched 45 ships in 17 task forces to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to carry out escort operations. So far, we have provided escorts for more than 5,600 ships, half of which are foreign.
The PLA is ready to work with other militaries to further contribute to regional and global peace and development. To that end, I would like to make the following proposals:
1. To Promote Mutual Strategic Trust by Deepening Dialogue and Exchanges. We will continue to work with regional countries to carry out in-depth bilateral and multilateral security dialogues and exchanges, and we welcome senior defense officials and scholars of regional countries to join us at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing in October. China will continue to step up dialogue, communication and coordination with ASEAN countries in the defense and security areas, and support the development of the ASEAN Community. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan has invited ASEAN defense ministers to China in 2015 for a Special China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting. We expect the meeting to achieve significant results.
2. To Support Common Development by Strengthening Security Cooperation. China has proposed working with regional countries to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The two major cooperation initiatives offer new opportunities for China and regional countries to achieve common development. Common development cannot happen without a secure environment. The building of the Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road must be driven by two wheels: development and security. The PLA is ready to work with regional countries to strengthen practical cooperation in counter-terrorism, disaster relief, protection of sea lines of communication and other fields, to ensure common prosperity along the Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road.
3. To Jointly Tackle Challenges by Promoting Disaster Relief Cooperation. The Asia-Pacific region is prone to disasters. The importance of regional emergency cooperation was highlighted by the recent search operations for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. This year, in order to improve regional capacity building, we have arranged five bilateral and multilateral joint disaster relief exercises and drills of all services with regional countries. In 2015, China and Malaysia will co-host the 4th ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise to promote regional capacity in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
4. To Maintain Maritime Security by Highlighting Maritime Cooperation. The ocean serves the common interests of all Asia-Pacific countries. It is therefore the shared responsibility of all to strengthen maritime cooperation and maintain maritime security. China and Russia have conducted a number of joint naval exercises, including the recent successful "Joint Maritime 2014" in the East China Sea. We are working with the United States to deepen military maritime consultations and actively advance the formulation of the Standards of Behavior for Air and Sea Military Safety at High Seas. The PLA Navy is participating in RIMPAC 2014. China and Indonesia have established navy-to-navy cooperation talks. The Chinese government has set up a China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund of 3 billion RMB, to support, among other things, joint maritime search and rescue operations and the establishment of hotlines for search and rescue and other programs. China will continue to deepen multi-faceted maritime security cooperation with its regional partners through joint exercises, ship visits and maritime liaison mechanisms.
5. To Effectively Manage Differences by Establishing Security Mechanisms. In order to maintain regional security and stability, it is crucial to properly manage differences, ensure timely communication, and dispel misperceptions and miscalculations. China has established defense telephone links with Russia and the United States and we are exploring the possibility of establishing similar telephone links with ASEAN countries. In order to effectively cope with disasters and emergencies, communication and coordination should be strengthened among regional countries in an effort to establish an early warning and information sharing mechanism for disasters and emergencies.
Peace does not come easily, and security should be cherished above all. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. China will work with all other countries to safeguard the fruits of victory as well as the post-war international order. We will never allow ruthless Fascist and militarist aggression to stage a comeback. Major countries shoulder major responsibilities for maintaining security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, while medium-sized and small countries can also play a constructive role. As a responsible major country, China is ready to join with all other Asia-Pacific countries to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results. Let us work together to create a better future for the Asia-Pacific region.
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