Key role of national security stressed

China coordinates its own security and common security, opposes the generalization of security, and has unwavering confidence in resisting external security threats, which have been escalating, according to the country's first white paper on national security.

The document, titled "China's National Security in the New Era", was released by the State Council Information Office on Monday.

It stated that anti-China forces are relentlessly pursuing strategies of containment, suppression and encirclement, employing tactics to Westernize and fragment the nation through infiltration and destabilization campaigns. Furthermore, external forces are increasingly meddling in regional affairs, exacerbating threats to border security and territorial integrity, it said.

Certain countries are flagrantly interfering in China's internal affairs, provoking tensions in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and East China Sea, while instigating disputes on issues related to the Xinjiang and Xizang autonomous regions and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, according to the white paper.

External forces are deliberately exploiting the "Taiwan card", emboldening "Taiwan independence" factions that obstinately cling to separatist agendas and engage in reckless provocations, it said, adding that overseas separatist groups are continuously intensifying their destabilizing activities.

To address these challenges, China has elevated national security to unprecedented prominence, systematically countering external containment and suppression through integrated diplomatic, economic and technological resilience measures, the white paper said.

According to an official from a relevant authority, China has maintained overall stability and steady progress in national security, and by working together with Asia-Pacific countries, it has played an important role in upholding regional peace and development.

"These achievements have injected reliable stability into a volatile and unstable world. Also, the white paper demonstrates China's unwavering confidence in resisting external containment and safeguarding national interests," the official said in a written reply.

According to the white paper, China's national security in the new era is one that takes the people's security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, and national interests as the guiding principle.

In the new era, the Communist Party of China Central Committee proposed a holistic approach to national security, established a national security commission under the CPC Central Committee, comprehensively deepened the reform of the system and mechanisms for national security, and accelerated the modernization of the national security system and capabilities, the white paper said.

China values coordinating development with security, striving to achieve a positive interaction between high-quality development and high-level security, and promoting mutual reinforcement and coordinated enhancement between opening-up and security, it added.

The official said there is a section in the white paper on reinforcing security in development and pursuing development in security, which explains the importance of high-level security in safeguarding high-quality development.

"China has long maintained political stability and social order, being recognized globally as one of the safest countries. With broad market prospects, stable policy expectations and a good security situation, it provides a fertile ground conducive to business investment and development," the official said.

"China has been, currently is, and will inevitably continue to be a key engine driving global economic growth," the official added.

According to the white paper, China ensures both its own security and common security, advocates strengthening global security governance, practices the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, upholds true multilateralism, and works to make the global security governance system fairer and more equitable.

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Abstract of white paper on China's national security in new era