Transcript of the regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense in August 2022

Source: Ministry of Defense Release

August 25, 2022

Publisher: Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, deputy director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense

Transcript of the regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense in August 2022

On the afternoon of August 25, the Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference, and Colonel Tan Kefei, deputy director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, answered reporters' questions. Photo by Li Xiaowei

First, I post two messages.

The first message.

The Armed Police Force of China will hold the "Great Wall-2022" International Forum on Counter-Terrorism in Beijing from August 30 to 31. The forum focused on the theme of counter-terrorism, and set up two topics: "Research on International Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism of the World Police and Constitutional Forces" and "Research on Counter-Terrorism Operations of Unmanned and Intelligent Weapon Platforms in Different Environments such as Cities and Mountains". The forum was organized and implemented by a combination of online and offline methods, Chinese personnel and military attaches (or gendarme representatives) in China participated in the meeting offline, overseas personnel participated in the video link, a total of about 110 representatives of similar troops from 30 countries such as Russia, Pakistan, Brazil, Italy were invited to attend the meeting, and the main leaders of similar forces in Cambodia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and other countries attended the opening (closing) ceremony and delivered speeches. The forum will help the Armed Police Force and similar foreign forces to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and deepen bilateral and multilateral practical cooperation in counter-terrorism.

Second message.

From August 24 to 25, the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the Ministry of National Defense of China held the first "Common Vision" Peacekeeping and International Forum in Beijing in the form of a video conference. The theme of the forum is "Making the Vision of Peace a Reality", and there are three sub-themes: "Challenges of UN Peacekeeping Operations", "Supporting UN Peacekeeping Operations to Play a Greater Role", and "Building a New Peacekeeping Partnership". Foreign participants included Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan and other major troop-contributing and funding countries, as well as officials of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations and the African Union, and experts and scholars from relevant research institutions. The Participants of the Chinese Side included personnel of central and state organs, relevant units of the armed forces, and scholars from academies and universities.

Reporter: Recently, the General Office of the Central Military Commission issued the "Circular", requiring the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force to seriously organize the study and use of the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping on Governing the Country". Please provide further information on this and what specific measures will be taken by the military?

Tan Kefei: The publication and distribution of the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping on Governing the Country" is of great significance to promoting the continuous deepening of the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and leading the whole party, the whole army, and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to work hard, move forward courageously, and unite in struggle in the new era and new journey. The whole army conscientiously implements the spirit of the "Circular", continues to do a good job in the study and use of the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping on Governing the Country", integrates with the first, second and third volumes as a whole, deeply understands the decisive significance of the "two establishments", enhances the "four consciousnesses", strengthens the "four self-confidences", achieves "two safeguards", implements the responsibility system of the chairman of the Central Military Commission, and resolutely obeys the command of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and President Xi. Take the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping on Governing the Country" as an important part of the study of the theoretical study center group of the party committee, the theoretical rotation training of leading cadres, the ideological and political education of the army, and the teaching of political theory in colleges and universities, deeply understand the great significance, scientific system, spiritual essence and practical requirements of the latest achievements in the sinification of Marxism, and adhere to and make good use of the positions and viewpoints and methods that run through it. On the basis of comprehensive study, we should give prominence to studying Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army, deeply study "Xi Jinping on Strengthening the Army and Rejuvenating the Army", "Xi Jinping on Strengthening the Army and Rejuvenating the Army (II)", "Xi Jinping on Strengthening the Army and Rejuvenating the Army (III)", "Outline for the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army", "Questions and Answers on the Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army", and firmly establish the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army in national defense and army building. Organize the vast number of theoretical workers and the military's news media to deepen research, propaganda, and interpretation, give play to the exemplary and leading role of leading cadres at all levels, and have a strong atmosphere of study. We should vigorously carry forward the Marxist study style of integrating theory with practice, make efforts to study, understand, understand, and do practical work, firmly grasp the goal of achieving the goal of building the army for one hundred years, comprehensively strengthen army building, comprehensively strengthen military training and preparation for war, resolutely fulfill all tasks entrusted by the party and the people, and greet the victory of the party's twentieth national congress with practical actions.

Reporter: Recently, officials of the United States, Japan, and other countries have spoken out many times to make groundless accusations against the military training activities carried out by the Chinese military near the island of Taiwan. Do you have any comment on this?

Tan Kefei: The remarks of the countries concerned are completely inverting black and white and throwing the pot and shirking blame, and the Chinese side has repeatedly stated its position of resolute opposition. The causes and consequences of the current situation in the Taiwan Strait are clear and clear, and the merits and demerits are clear at a glance. The series of military exercises recently carried out by the Chinese People's Liberation Army near Taiwan Island are open, transparent, professional, and moderate, a warning and response to provocateurs and spoilers, and a legitimate and just act of resolutely safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States, as the initiator of this crisis, should and must bear full responsibility for it. The US side should earnestly abide by the one-China principle and take immediate measures to correct its mistakes instead of further aggravating tension in the Taiwan Strait.

Recently, the Japanese side has echoed the negative words and deeds of the US side related to Taiwan and exaggerated the so-called "Chinese military threat," which is extremely irresponsible. For some time, Japan has continued to increase its defense budget and strengthen its military deployment, which has aroused the high vigilance of regional countries and the international community. We urge the Japanese side to deeply reflect on its own history of aggression, stop spreading rumors and smearing against China, and do more things that are conducive to enhancing mutual trust with neighboring countries and maintaining regional peace and stability.

Reporter: According to reports, Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Di ban in Guangzhou. Please give further information on the situation and evaluate the current relations between the Chinese and Cambodian armies.

Tan Kefei: China and Cambodia are hardcore friends and a community of common destiny, and the special bilateral relationship has been forged and nurtured by the leaders of the older generation and has maintained a high level of development for a long time. The Chinese and Cambodian armies are good brothers with the same feelings and brotherhood, and good friends who help each other. The two sides have maintained good exchanges and cooperation in the fields of military training, personnel training, and exchanges between services and arms. During the visit of Deputy Prime Minister diban and minister of defense to China, the two sides adhered to the spirit of mutual respect, mutual trust and equal treatment, exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues, and communicated and docked pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries, which will surely push the relations between the two militaries to a new level, continue to deepen the construction of a community of common destiny of strategic significance, and make new contributions to international and regional peace and stability.

Reporter: According to reports, the Chinese military recently went to Russia to participate in the "Vostok-2022" exercise. Please introduce the relevant preparations of the Chinese side and the purpose and significance of this exercise.

Tan Kefei: According to the annual cooperation plan between the Chinese and Russian militaries and the consensus reached by both sides, the Chinese People's Liberation Army recently dispatched some troops to Russia to participate in the "Vostok-2022" exercise. India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia and other countries also sent troops to participate in the exercise. China's land and air forces have reached the designated areas, successively completed the concentration of troops, the opening of field camps and on-site surveys, and successively carried out adaptive flight training; After the maritime participating forces met with the Russian ships at sea, they carried out exercises in communications and other subjects.

The Purpose of the Chinese Armed Forces' participation in the "Vostok-2022" exercise in Russia is to deepen pragmatic and friendly cooperation with the militaries of the participating countries, enhance the level of strategic coordination between the participating parties, and enhance their ability to jointly deal with multiple security threats.

Reporter: Recently, Minister Wei Fenghe delivered a video speech at the 10th Moscow International Security Conference, attending the meeting of defense ministers of the SCO member states by video. Please further introduce the Chinese military's implementation of the global security initiative and the deepening of multilateral security dialogue and cooperation.

Tan Kefei: Today's world is experiencing major changes unprecedented in a century, the changes of the times and the epidemic of the century are superimposed on each other, and the world has entered a new period of turbulent change. When President Xi Jinping attended the Boao Forum for Asia in April this year, he put forward the global security initiative for the first time, advocating adherence to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, which provided a new direction for eliminating the root causes of international conflicts and achieving long-term peace and stability in the world. On August 16, State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe was invited to deliver a video address at the 10th Moscow International Security Conference. On August 24, the 19th meeting of defense ministers of the SCO member states was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Minister Wei attended and delivered a speech by video. During the above two activities, Minister Wei actively promoted the major concepts such as the global security initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and pointed out that China is willing to work with other countries to establish a sense of community of solidarity and common security, and strive to promote the implementation and blossoming of the global security initiative, so as to make the world more peaceful, safer and more prosperous; China has always stood on the side of peaceful dialogue, fairness and justice, and actively explored ways to solve hotspot issues with Chinese characteristics.

The Chinese military has always attached great importance to multilateral security dialogue. In recent years, we have actively participated in multilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Enlargement Meeting, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Shangri-La Dialogue, and put forward constructive proposals on strengthening regional defense and security cooperation. Building the beijing Xiangshan Forum exchange platform and inviting representatives of various countries and international organizations to jointly explore new ideas and new ways to deal with regional security threats and challenges has played a positive role in promoting security dialogue and mutual trust and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese military will continue to firmly implement the global security initiative, promote the innovative development of international military cooperation, and make positive contributions to maintaining world peace and stability.

Reporter: According to reports, the recruitment work in the second half of the country in 2022 will be fully launched before the day. Please further introduce the relevant situation of the conscription work, what are the new characteristics and new policies of the conscription work this time?

Tan Kefei: According to the conscription orders of the State Council and the Central Military Commission, this year we will continue to carry out conscription twice a year, of which the conscription work in the second half of the year began on August 15, and the transportation of new recruits began in mid-September and ended at the end of September. According to the actual situation of epidemic prevention and control, all localities may appropriately advance or postpone working hours. The targets of recruitment are college students, highlighting the recruitment of graduates from various types of schools at all levels, and giving priority to the approval of science and engineering college students and skilled personnel needed to prepare for war. The political and physical conditions for recruiting new recruits are implemented in accordance with the "Regulations on political assessment of the recruitment and recruitment of personnel in the armed forces", "Standards for physical examination of conscripted citizens" and relevant regulations, respectively, of which the enlistment age for graduate students and students enrolled in the military has been relaxed to 26 years old. At the same time, the relevant departments of the armed forces have continued to implement a series of preferential policies, such as college students joining the army to retain their student status or enrollment qualifications, enjoy state education subsidies and change majors after retiring from military service, "specialized upgrading" without examinations, and extra points for examination and research, and encourage high-quality young people to actively and enthusiastically apply for the recruitment.

Reporter: According to reports, the air forces of China and Thailand recently held a joint air force training in Thailand code-named "Eagle Strike-2022". Please provide further information.

Tan Kefei: On the morning of August 24, the closing ceremony of the "Eagle Strike-2022" Sino-Thai Air Force Joint Training was held at the Thai Air Force Udon Thani Base. Members of the command groups of the two sides of the joint training, personnel of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and representatives of officers and men participating in the training attended the training.

This joint training is the fifth joint training carried out by the air forces of China and Thailand, and the joint training highlights the diversity, actual combat and command integration of the training, gradually expands the scale of troops, the content of the course is more close to actual combat, and the intensity of confrontation is constantly improved. China and Thailand have dispatched a total of 17 aircraft of 7 types, such as fighters and early warning aircraft, to participate in the training, conduct discussions and exchanges on mission planning, command coordination, tactical application, and comprehensive support, and successfully completed training in such subjects as close air support, ground assault, and small-scale and large-scale force use. The joint training has deepened the pragmatic cooperation between the Chinese and Thai militaries, improved the technical and tactical level of both sides, and helped to jointly maintain regional security and stability.

[Reporter] Recently, China said in its speech at the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that it resolutely opposes nuclear-powered submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia, and warned Japan and relevant countries not to replicate "nuclear sharing" in the Asia-Pacific region. Please further introduce China's position on relevant issues.

Tan Kefei: China has stressed many times that the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation poses a serious risk of nuclear proliferation, impacts the international nuclear non-proliferation system, intensifies the arms race, and undermines regional peace and stability. As a depositary and nuclear-weapon State of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the transfer of nuclear submarine power reactors and weapons-grade highly enriched uranium to non-nuclear-weapon States by the United States and britain is a flagrant violation of the object and purpose of the Treaty. We urge the countries concerned to earnestly fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations, withdraw their decision to cooperate in nuclear submarines, and call on the international community to jointly safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, which is based on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and to maintain international peace and security.

We have noted the recent voices of Japan and other individual countries seeking "nuclear sharing" with the United States, and China believes that relevant countries should earnestly fulfill their obligations under the Treaty and their own commitments, and stop clamoring for "nuclear sharing" or other forms of nuclear deterrence arrangements. Any attempt to replicate the "nuclear sharing" model in the Asia-Pacific region will seriously damage the regional strategic balance and stability, and will certainly be resolutely opposed and countered by the countries in the region.

Reporter: According to foreign media reports, the special forces of the United States and India recently held a joint combat exercise of more than 20 days in the southern foothills of the Himalayas. It is also reported that the U.S. and Indian militaries are planning to hold a joint military exercise code-named "War Exercise" in October. According to the report, the military exercise site is close to the Sino-Indian border area, and the focus will be on the exercise of plateau and mountain combat capabilities, and the intention of targeting China is more obvious. What is China's comment on this?

Tan Kefei: We have noted relevant reports and will pay close attention to the relevant trends. China has always stressed that military cooperation among relevant countries, especially in training exercises, should not be directed at third parties and should help maintain regional peace and stability.

The border issue is a matter between China and India, and the two sides have maintained effective communication at all levels and agreed to properly handle the relevant situation through bilateral dialogue. We firmly oppose any form of interference by a third party in the Sino-Indian boundary issue. In accordance with the spirit of the relevant agreements signed between China and India in 1993 and 1996, the two sides are not allowed to conduct military exercises against each other in areas near the Line of Actual Control. It is hoped that the Indian side will strictly abide by the important consensus and relevant agreements and agreements between the leaders of the two countries, abide by its commitment to resolving the border issue through bilateral channels, and take practical actions to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Reporter: Recently, the DPP authorities have repeatedly speculated that the mainland's military exercises around Taiwan are "irresponsible" and "provocative" acts. According to Taiwan media reports, the Taiwan military recently carried out heavy artillery firing training, test firing of "infinitely high" missiles, and conducted anti-landing drills. Do you have any comment on this?

Tan Kefei: The recently published white paper "The Taiwan Issue and the Cause of China's Reunification in the New Era" comprehensively and systematically expounded Taiwan's historical longitude and latitude of belonging to China since ancient times, legal facts, and the positions, principles, and policies for promoting the reunification of the motherland in the new era. The DPP authorities and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces have not hesitated to turn their backs on the great national righteousness for the sake of their own selfish interests and collude with external forces to seek "independence" provocations, which is the root cause of the escalation of tension in the Taiwan Strait. The series of military operations we have recently organized are a deterrent and punishment against the interference of "Taiwan independence" separatists and external forces. Pursuing "Taiwan independence" will only push Taiwan into the abyss of disaster and will only bring deep calamities to the Taiwan compatriots. We are warning the DPP authorities and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces that if they cling to embracing foreigners for self-respect and seeking "independence" provocations without repentance or relent, we will continue to speak with deeds and resolutely counter them.