Promoting regional cooperation

Third, we should manage and control crises and strengthen channels for security cooperation. Permanent peace can be maintained only when all crises are resolved properly. Given that the region has a number of hotspot issues and challenges, Asia-Pacific countries should deepen their cooperation and pool their wisdom and strength together to resolve crises and handle challenges in order to seize the opportunities that emerge and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

More efforts should be made to maintain peace and encourage negotiations instead of adding fuel to the fire.

Countries should employ more strategic wisdom to find new answers to old issues, and mutually beneficial answers to new issues, and seek breakthroughs in disputes. It must be emphasized that we advocate peace, but not out of fear of war. If someone provokes a war, we will respond calmly and fight to the last. We do advocate negotiations, but we will not compromise unconditionally.

If someone challenges our core national interests, we will respond suitably without giving up an inch of our land or sea territory. We advocate flexibility, but we will not compromise with our principles. And if someone should challenge the norms of international relations, we will oppose unequivocally and determinedly.

Fourth, we should perfect the regional security architecture and strengthen the platform for security cooperation. Efficient security cooperation mechanisms with smooth communication facilities serve as the ballast and stabilizer to safeguard regional peace. In fact, security cooperation mechanisms at different levels with varying emphases have already been established in the Asia-Pacific region.

We can strengthen communication, resolve disputes and deepen cooperation through regional cooperative organizations by giving full play to the existing mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN 10+1, ASEAN 10+3, ASEAN 10+8 and the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Military alliances in the region should not go beyond the scope of bilateral relations, let alone targeting at a third party. The region's countries should adapt to the general trend of peaceful development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific by contributing more to regional peace and stability and not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

Efforts should be made to deepen bilateral defense relations based on the principles of non-alignment, such as giving further play to multilateral platforms such as the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue and the Shangri-La Dialogue, and to jointly promote the building of a regional structure for security cooperation characterized by co-existence, interactions and complementary advantages.

To pursue its "dream", China will join hands with the Asia-Pacific countries in committing itself to maintaining peace and promoting common development in the region. As an active communicator of the Asia-Pacific security concept, China is committed to following the path of peaceful development and advocating the establishment of a new type of partnership with comprehensive security, common security and cooperative security being at its core. This significant concept has been appreciated and echoed by an increasing number of Asia-Pacific countries.

China is sincere in its hope of handling issues properly through cooperation, but it remains firm in its determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The author is a lieutenant general and deputy chief of the general staff, People's Liberation Army, and chairman of China Institute for International Strategic Studies. This is an excerpt from his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the international symposium on "Security and Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region" on June 19.