Build a solid national security barrier for the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation

Reporter Qi Yukun

To realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and ensure that the people live and work in peace and contentment, national security is the top priority.

"It is necessary to accurately grasp the new characteristics and trends of changes in the national security situation, adhere to the overall national security concept, and embark on a national security path with Chinese characteristics. On April 15, 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively put forward the overall national security concept at the first meeting of the Central National Security Commission.

As the "national security chapter" of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the overall national security concept is the first major strategic thought in the history of our Party to be established as the guiding ideology of national security work, and embodies the strategic wisdom and mission of the Communist Party of China to strive to create a new situation in national security work.

Over the past decade, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and under the scientific guidance of the overall national security concept, national security has been comprehensively strengthened, withstanding the risks and challenges from politics, economy, ideology, nature and other aspects, and providing a strong guarantee for the prosperity and long-term peace and stability of the Party and the country.

Embark on a path of national security with Chinese characteristics

Preparedness is the way of the country.

Internal security and external security are superimposed on each other, traditional security and non-traditional security threats are intertwined, and "black swan" and "gray rhinoceros" events occur from time to time...... Under the new situation, the threats and challenges to the mainland's national security and social stability are increasing, and the people's security needs are growing day by day.

In the process of accurately grasping the general trend of the development of the times and in the unremitting exploration of the path of national security with Chinese characteristics, the overall national security concept came into being.

From April 15, 2014, when the overall national security concept was first proposed, to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the overall national security concept was incorporated into the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and written into the Party Constitution;

From clearly putting forward the requirements of the "Ten Insistences" for implementing the overall national security concept, to incorporating "coordinated development and security" into the guiding ideology of economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period;

From the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party's Centennial Struggle" to the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China for the first time to discuss and deploy national security work, emphasizing that "we must unswervingly implement the overall national security concept";

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Over the past 10 years, we have deepened our understanding of the regularity of national security work, and the overall concept of national security has been continuously enriched and developed, guiding us to embark on a path of national security with Chinese characteristics and creating a new situation in safeguarding national security.

Upholding the party's leadership over national security work is the fundamental principle for doing a good job in national security work.

In January 2014, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to study and decide on the establishment of the Central National Security Commission, with General Secretary Xi Jinping personally serving as the chairman of the Central National Security Commission, in April 2018, the first meeting of the 19th Central National Security Commission deliberated and adopted the Provisions on the National Security Responsibility System of Party Committees (Party Groups), and in May 2023, the first meeting of the 20th Central National Security Commission deliberated and adopted the Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a National Security Risk Monitoring and Early Warning System. Opinions on Comprehensively Strengthening National Security Education" and other documents......

A series of national security strategic plans and top-level designs have effectively strengthened the Party's absolute leadership over national security work, realized the effective operation of the coordination mechanism for national security work, and basically covered the national security system of local Party committees.

Unify thinking, will, and action, and move forward in unison. The CPC Central Committee promulgated the Regulations on the Leadership of the Communist Party of China in National Security Work to ensure that thoughts and actions are aligned with the Party Central Committee's decision-making and deployment of national security work.

All localities and departments have profoundly understood the decisive significance of the "two establishments", strengthened the "four consciousnesses", strengthened the "four self-confidences", and achieved the "two safeguards", fully implemented the national security responsibility system, and implemented the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee on national security work to the letter.

National security is all for the people and depends on the people.

Strengthening the people's awareness of national security is a solid policy and a long-term plan for national security work. On July 1, 2015, the 15th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress passed the National Security Law, and designated April 15 as National Security Education Day.

April 15 this year marks the ninth National Security Education Day. Recently, the Chongqing University Students' Overall National Security Concept Publicity Group walked into Southwest University of Political Science and Law and carried out a theme lecture. "The propaganda team excavates the people and things around them, tells the story of national security in a way that everyone likes to see, and drives the whole society to consciously practice the overall national security concept. She Jiexin, a researcher at the Institute of Overall National Security Concept of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said.

Recently, various forms of propaganda and education activities have been carried out throughout the country to publicize and popularize national security knowledge, promote the overall national security concept to be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and create a strong atmosphere for the whole people to jointly build a national security barrier.

At the Shanghai National Security Education Center, security guards, construction workers, and maintenance personnel from the homes of the city builders and managers of the new era in Minhang District came to visit and study; in Guangdong, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Chaozhou and other places, "national security maritime classes" were set up on islands or offshore waters, attracting the participation of the general public......

Formulate guidelines for national security education in primary and secondary schools, establish a first-level discipline of national security, and create a matrix for national security publicity and education...... Propaganda and education on national security have been carried out in government organs, schools, enterprises, villages, communities, barracks, and networks, and the people's awareness of national security has been markedly enhanced, the people's defense line for national security has been further consolidated, and the people's security has been more comprehensively and fully guaranteed.

Accelerate the modernization of the national security system and capabilities

In May 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the first meeting of the 20th Central National Security Commission. The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to accelerate the modernization of the national security system and capabilities, highlight the clear orientation of actual combat and practicality, pay more attention to coordination and efficiency, rule of law thinking, scientific and technological empowerment, and grassroots foundation, and promote the organic convergence and linkage integration of all aspects of construction.

In recent years, the four pillars of the national security system have been initially built, the national security capability has been significantly enhanced, and the supporting role of national security has become increasingly apparent.

The national security system is constantly improving——

The national security system is an important part of the national governance system and an important support for maintaining and shaping national security.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the construction of the national security legal system has been accelerated. The National Security Law establishes the guiding position of the overall national security concept in the form of law and clarifies the tasks of safeguarding national security. A series of laws and regulations, such as the Cybersecurity Law, the Biosecurity Law, the Data Security Law, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the Food Security Law, and the Counter-Espionage Law, have been promulgated and implemented, continuously building a solid legal guarantee for national security in the new era.

On March 19 this year, the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deliberated and passed the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which was gazetted and came into effect on March 23. The organic convergence between the Hong Kong National Security Ordinance and the implemented Hong Kong National Security Law has made up for the shortcomings of the HKSAR's system and mechanism for safeguarding national security, and jointly built a solid shield for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, enabling the HKSAR to fully and effectively prevent, suppress and punish acts and activities endangering national security.

From the review and adoption of the Outline of the National Security Strategy in January 2015 to the National Security Strategy (2021-2025) in November 2021, the national security strategy system has been continuously formulated and improved, further clarifying the national security strategic guidelines, medium- and long-term goals, and national security policies in key areas, providing strong strategic support for comprehensively safeguarding national security under the new situation.

Improve the anti-sanctions, anti-interference, and anti-"long-arm jurisdiction" mechanisms; improve the national security policy system, risk monitoring and early warning system, national emergency management system, security guarantee system in key areas, and the coordination and command system for important special projects; strengthen the construction of security guarantee systems for land, economy, major infrastructure, science and technology, culture, society, ecology, military, finance, network, artificial intelligence, data, biology, resources, nuclear, space, ocean, polar regions, and overseas interests; improve the layout of national security forces, and build a global linkage, Three-dimensional and efficient national security protection system...... A set of national security systems with Chinese characteristics that are based on basic national conditions, reflect the characteristics of the times, and adapt to the strategic security environment, with coordinated content, strict procedures, complete supporting facilities, and effective operation, has been accelerated to form.

The ability to safeguard national security continues to be enhanced——

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to "strengthen national security capacity building and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests", and the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to "enhance the ability to safeguard national security".

Previously, sea cucumber farmers in Dalian, Liaoning Province, reported several "uninvited guests" to the state security authorities.

It turned out that someone led several foreigners to install marine hydrological monitoring equipment and sea and air monitoring camera equipment in the sea cucumber farm, and the relevant data was continuously transmitted overseas.

The state security organs have taken a resolute attack and cracked down on the illegal activities of foreign organizations and personnel in stealing secrets from China in accordance with the law, effectively eliminating the risks and hidden dangers of leakage of confidential data and information, and effectively safeguarding national security.

Dare to fight, good at fighting.

Implement the innovation-driven development strategy, continuously enhance the systematic capacity of science and technology to support national security, continue to increase the capacity of materials, technology, equipment, talents, laws and mechanisms needed to safeguard national security, and continuously enhance the capacity of national security, strengthen the capacity of overseas security security, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of mainland citizens and legal persons overseas, and safeguard maritime rights and interests......

Focusing on the strategic needs of maintaining and shaping national security, all regions and departments have paid more attention to coordination and efficiency, more attention to the rule of law thinking, more attention to the empowerment of science and technology, and more attention to the grassroots foundation, so as to comprehensively improve national security capabilities.

Adhere to the mutual promotion of high-quality development and high-level security

General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that security is the premise of development, and development is the guarantee of security. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) included "overall development and security" in the revised Party Constitution, highlighting the full affirmation of the theoretical and practical value of this major strategic thinking by the whole Party.

In December 2023, the Central Economic Work Conference pointed out that it is necessary to adhere to the benign interaction between high-quality development and high-level security, promote high-level security with high-quality development, ensure high-quality development with high-level security, and dynamically balance and complement each other.

In March this year, in Changsha, Hunan, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era, emphasizing that it is necessary to adhere to high-quality development and high-level security to promote each other.

Over the past 10 years, China has created two miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability, by persisting in coordinating development and security, and doing a good job in the two major issues of development and security.

The overall national security concept covers many fields such as politics, military, territory, economy, culture, society, science and technology, network, ecology, resources, nuclear, overseas interests, space, deep sea, polar regions, and biology. To coordinate development and security, it is necessary to ensure that key areas are safe and controllable, and to maintain a solid bottom line for high-quality development.

Safety is the first need of the people after solving the problem of food and clothing. Regard the maintenance of national security and social stability as a basic task of the Party and the state, effectively prevent, defuse, and deal with all kinds of political security risks, normalize the fight against organized crime and evil, and adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era, so that the social security situation is at the best level in history...... Historic achievements have been made in the construction of a peaceful China, which has made the security guarantee for development more powerful, and the national political security defense line has been further strengthened. The international community generally believes that China is one of the safest countries in the world. Ping An has become a bright national business card of China.

Food is linked to the people's livelihood and national security. In 2023, the foundation of food security on the mainland will be further consolidated. In the face of extreme weather such as floods, the country's grain output still achieved "20 consecutive bumpers," reaching 1.39 trillion jin, a record high, and firmly holding the Chinese's rice bowl in their own hands.

Financial security is an important part of national security. By convening the Central Financial Work Conference and promoting the reform of the financial regulatory system, the prevention and control of financial risks has been put in a more important position, the bottom line of preventing systemic financial risks has been firmly maintained, and the general trend of development has been controlled, and the financial system has strongly supported the overall situation of economic and social development, and finance has become an important force in promoting economic and social development.

There is no national security without cybersecurity. In recent years, a series of non-traditional security issues such as cyber security and artificial intelligence security have become more prominent. The promulgation and implementation of the Cybersecurity Law, the Data Security Law, and the Personal Information Protection Law have provided legal support for the maintenance of cybersecurity; the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Incident Emergency Plan has effectively improved the capacity of cybersecurity emergency response and incident handling; and the holding of the National Cybersecurity Publicity Week for 10 consecutive years has significantly improved the cybersecurity awareness and capacity of the whole society......

Safety is like sunshine, benefit without realizing it, and lose it is difficult to survive. The key to achieving a high level of security lies in running one's own affairs well, improving the quality of development, enhancing international competitiveness, and enhancing the country's overall strength and ability to resist risks.

In April 2022, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Security Initiative, adhering to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and advocating a new security path of dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum.

The Global Security Initiative (GSI) is a major theoretical innovation in the overall national security outlook, focusing on coordinating the security of one's own country with the security of other countries, upholding the principle of inseparable security, and jointly safeguarding world peace and security.

In recent years, China has joined hands with the international community to actively implement the Global Security Initiative, advocating bridging differences through dialogue and resolving disputes through cooperation, resolutely opposing all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and advocating solidarity and win-win thinking to address complex and intertwined security challenges, and creating a security pattern of fairness, justice, joint contribution and shared benefits.

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National security and civil security are the most basic and universal aspirations of the people.

On the new journey, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, we will adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the overall national security concept, coordinate development and security, openness and security, traditional and non-traditional security, coordinate our own security and common security, and coordinate the maintenance and shaping of national security.

People's Daily (2024-04-14 01 Edition)