A look at the Chinese vocabulary of the China Military Power Report (CMPR)
Michael Horlick, MPM, M Ed., PMP
Educator, Ethicist, and Incurable Idealist
The following Chinese terms were included in the CMPR published this week:
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 二是坚定不移开展互利合作，深化发展战略对接，积极探讨中方参与“新哈萨克斯坦”建设，哈方参与中方构建“双循环”新发展格局的具体途径。
Second, stay committed to mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides are ready to further synergize our development strategies, actively explore China’s participation in the “New Kazakhstan” development strategy and ways for Kazakhstan to take part in China’s effort to foster a new development paradigm that aims to promote domestic and international circulations.
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 中国始终奉行防御性国防政策和积极防御的军事战略。
China has always pursued a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and a military strategy of active defense.
- 新时代军事战略方针，坚持防御、自卫、后发制人原则，实行积极防御，坚持“人不犯我、我不犯人，人若犯我、我必犯人”，强调遏制战争与打赢战争相统一，强调战略上防御与战役战斗上进攻相统一。
The military strategic guideline for a new era adheres to the principles of defense, self-defense and post-strike response, and adopts active defense. It keeps to the stance that “we will not attack unless we are attacked, but we will surely counterattack if attacked”, places emphasis on both containing and winning wars, and underscores the unity of strategic defense and offense at operational and tactical levels.
- 积极防御战略方针：积极防御战略思想是中国共产党军事战略思想的基本点。?在长期革命战争实践中，人民军队形成了一整套积极防御战略思想，坚持战略上防御与战役战斗上进攻的统一，坚持防御、自卫、后发制人的原则，坚持“人不犯我，我不犯人；人若犯我，我必犯人”。?新中国成立后，中央军委确立积极防御军事战略方针，并根据国家安全形势发展变化对积极防御军事战略方针的内容进行了多次整。?1993年，制定新时期军事战略方针，以打赢现代技术特别是高技术条件下局部战争为军事斗争准备基点。?2004年，充实完善新时期军事战略方针，把军事斗争准备基点进一步调整为打赢信息化条件下的局部战争。?中国社会主义性质和国家根本利益，走和平发展道路的客观要求，决定中国必须毫不动摇坚持积极防御战略思想，同时不断丰富和发展这一思想的内涵。?根据国家安全和发展战略，适应新的历史时期形势任务要求，坚持实行积极防御军事战略方针，与时俱进加强军事战略指导，进一步拓宽战略视野、更新战略思维、前移指导重心，整体运筹备战与止战、维权与维稳、威慑与实战、战争行动与和平时期军事力量运用，注重深远经略，塑造有利态势，综合管控危机，坚决遏制和打赢战争。?实行新形势下积极防御军事战略方针，调整军事斗争准备基点。?根据战争形态演变和国家安全形势，将军事斗争准备基点放在打赢信息化局部战争上，突出海上军事斗争和军事斗争准备，有效控制重大危机，妥善应对连锁反应，坚决捍卫国家领土主权、统一和安全。?实行新形势下积极防御军事战略方针，创新基本作战思想。?根据各个方向安全威胁和军队能力建设实际，坚持灵活机动、自主作战的原则，你打你的、我打我的，运用诸军兵种一体化作战力量，实施信息主导、精打要害、联合制胜的体系作战。?实行新形势下积极防御军事战略方针，优化军事战略布局。?根据中国地缘战略环境、面临安全威胁和军队战略任务，构建全局统筹、分区负责，相互策应、互为一体的战略部署和军事布势；应对太空、网络空间等新型安全领域威胁，维护共同安全；加强海外利益攸关区国际安全合作，维护海外利益安全。?实行新形势下积极防御军事战略方针，坚持以下原则：服从服务于国家战略目标，贯彻总体国家安全观，加强军事斗争准备，预防危机、遏制战争、打赢战争；营造有利于国家和平发展的战略态势，坚持防御性国防政策，坚持政治、军事、经济、外交等领域斗争密切配合，积极应对国家可能面临的综合安全威胁；保持维权维稳平衡，统筹维权和维稳两个大局，维护国家领土主权和海洋权益，维护周边安全稳定；努力争取军事斗争战略主动，积极运筹谋划各方向各领域军事斗争，抓住机遇加快推进军队建设、改革和发展；运用灵活机动的战略战术，发挥联合作战整体效能，集中优势力量，综合运用战法手段；立足应对最复杂最困难情况，坚持底线思维，扎实做好各项准备工作，确保妥善应对、措置裕如；充分发挥人民军队特有的政治优势，坚持党对军队的绝对领导，重视战斗精神培育，严格部队组织纪律性，纯洁巩固部队，密切军政军民关系，鼓舞军心士气；发挥人民战争的整体威力，坚持把人民战争作为克敌制胜的重要法宝，拓展人民战争的内容和方式方法，推动战争动员以人力动员为主向以科技动员为主转变；积极拓展军事安全合作空间，深化与大国、周边、发展中国家的军事关系，促进建立地区安全和合作架构。
Strategic Guideline of Active Defense:?The strategic concept of active defense is the essence of the CPC's military strategic thought.?From the long-term practice of revolutionary wars, the people's armed forces have developed a complete set of strategic concepts of active defense, which boils down to: adherence to the unity of strategic defense and operational and tactical offense; adherence to the principles of defense, self-defense and post-emptive strike; and adherence to the stance that "We will not attack unless we are attacked, but we will surely counterattack if attacked."?Shortly after the founding of the PRC in 1949, the Central Military Commission (CMC) established the military strategic guideline of active defense, and later, in line with the developments and changes in the national security situation, had made a number of major revisions of it.?In 1993 the military strategic guideline of the new era was formulated, which took winning local wars in conditions of modern technology, particularly high technology, as the basic point in making preparation for military struggle (PMS).?In 2004, the guideline was further substantiated, and the basic point for PMS was modified to winning local wars under conditions of informationization.?China's socialist nature, fundamental national interests and the objective requirement of taking the path of peaceful development all demand that China unswervingly adhere to and enrich the strategic concept of active defense.?Guided by national security and development strategies, and required by the situation and their tasks in the new historical period, China's armed forces will continue to implement the military strategic guideline of active defense and enhance military strategic guidance as the times so require. They will further broaden strategic vision, update strategic thinking and make strategic guidance more forward-looking. A holistic approach will be taken to balance war preparation and war prevention, rights protection and stability maintenance, deterrence and warfighting, and operations in wartime and employment of military forces in peacetime. They will lay stress on farsighted planning and management to create a favorable posture, comprehensively manage crises, and resolutely deter and win wars.?To implement the military strategic guideline of active defense in the new situation, China's armed forces will adjust the basic point for PMS.?In line with the evolving form of war and national security situation, the basic point for PMS will be placed on winning informationized local wars, highlighting maritime military struggle and maritime PMS. The armed forces will work to effectively control major crises, properly handle possible chain reactions, and firmly safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty, integrity and security.?To implement the military strategic guideline of active defense in the new situation, China's armed forces will innovate basic operational doctrines.?In response to security threats from different directions and in line with their current capabilities, the armed forces will adhere to the principles of flexibility, mobility and self-dependence so that "you fight your way and I fight my way." Integrated combat forces will be employed to prevail in system-vs-system operations featuring information dominance, precision strikes and joint operations.?To implement the military strategic guideline of active defense in the new situation, China's armed forces will optimize the military strategic layout.?In view of China's geostrategic environment, the security threats it faces and the strategic tasks they shoulder, the armed forces will make overall planning for strategic deployment and military disposition, in order to clearly divide areas of responsibility for their troops, and enable them to support each other and act as an organic whole. Threats from such new security domains as outer space and cyber space will be dealt with to maintain the common security of the world community. China's armed forces will strengthen international security cooperation in areas crucially related to China's overseas interests, to ensure the security of such interests.?To implement the military strategic guideline of active defense in the new situation, China's armed forces will uphold the following principles: To be subordinate to and in the service of the national strategic goal, implement the holistic view of national security, strengthen PMS, prevent crises, deter and win wars; To foster a strategic posture favorable to China's peaceful development, adhere to the national defense policy that is defensive in nature, persevere in close coordination of political, military, economic and diplomatic work, and positively cope with comprehensive security threats the country possibly encounters; To strike a balance between rights protection and stability maintenance, and make overall planning for both, safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and maintain security and stability along China's periphery; To endeavor to seize the strategic initiative in military struggle, proactively plan for military struggle in all directions and domains, and grasp the opportunities to accelerate military building, reform and development; To employ strategies and tactics featuring flexibility and mobility, give full play to the overall effectiveness of joint operations, concentrate superior forces, and make integrated use of all operational means and methods; To make serious preparations to cope with the most complex and difficult scenarios, uphold bottom-line thinking, and do a solid job in all aspects so as to ensure proper responses to such scenarios with ease at any time and in any circumstances; To bring into full play the unique political advantages of the people's armed forces, uphold the CPC's absolute leadership over the military, accentuate the cultivation of fighting spirit, enforce strict discipline, improve the professionalism and strength of the troops, build closer relations between the government and the military as well as between the people and the military, and boost the morale of officers and men; To give full play to the overall power of the concept of people's war, persist in employing it as an ace weapon to triumph over the enemy, enrich the contents, ways and means of the concept of people's war, and press forward with the shift of the focus of war mobilization from human resources to science and technology; and To actively expand military and security cooperation, deepen military relations with major powers, neighboring countries and other developing countries, and promote the establishment of a regional framework for security and cooperation.
- 坚定不移实行积极防御军事战略，防备和抵抗侵略，遏制分裂势力，保卫边防、海防、空防安全，维护国家海洋权益和在太空、网络空间的安全利益。
China's armed forces unswervingly implement the military strategy of active defense, guard against and resist aggression, contain separatist forces, safeguard border, coastal and territorial air security, and protect national maritime rights and interests and national security interests in outer space and cyber space.
- 要适应国家发展战略和安全战略新要求，着眼全面履行新世纪新阶段军队历史使命，贯彻新时期积极防御军事战略方针，与时俱进加强军事战略指导，高度关注海洋、太空、网络空间安全，积极运筹和平时期军事力量运用，不断拓展和深化军事斗争准备，提高以打赢信息化条件下局部战争能力为核心的完成多样化军事任务能力。
?We should act to meet the new requirements of China's national development and security strategies and ensure that the armed forces fully carry out their historic mission in the new stage in the new century. We should implement the military strategy of active defense for the new period, and enhance military strategic guidance as the times so require. We should attach great importance to maritime, space and cyberspace security. We should make active planning for the use of military forces in peacetime, expand and intensify military preparedness, and enhance the capability to accomplish a wide range of military tasks, the most important of which is to win local war in an information age.
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 紧盯强敌对手，创新发展“科技+”“网络+”等训练方法手段，扩大科学家走进练兵场的规模频度，推进新装备新力量新领域融入体系训练，加速新质战斗力生成提高。
Eyeing closely the moves of adversaries, the military has innovated training methods such as “technology+” ,“cyber+”, etc, invited more scientists to improve training, and promoted the integration of new equipment, new forces and new areas into the training system, with a view to accelerating the generation of new combat capabilities.
- 全军官兵将把庆祝活动焕发的政治热情转化为推进新时代强国强军事业实际行动，坚决听从党中央、中央军委和习主席指挥，不忘初心、牢记使命，不畏强敌、敢于斗争，为实现党在新时代的强军目标、把人民军队全面建成世界一流军队而不懈奋斗。
Our military personnel will transform the political passion from the celebrations into concrete actions in the cause of building a strong nation and a strong military in the new era. They will steadfastly follow the command of the CPC Central Committee, the CMC and President Xi, stay true to the original aspiration and founding mission, dare to fight against powerful enemies, and make unremitting efforts to realize the Party's goal of building a strong military in the new era and building world-class armed forces in all aspects.
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 我们要不畏浮云遮望眼，准确认识历史发展规律，不为一时一事所惑，不为风险所惧，勇敢面对挑战，向着构建人类命运共同体的目标勇毅前行。?
We should stand high and not allow ourselves to be distracted by fleeting clouds, and we should have a keen appreciation of the law governing the advance of history. We should refuse to be led astray by any turn of events or intimidated by any risk. We should rise to challenge and forge ahead with resolve toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
领英推荐
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 王毅国务委员兼外长还就发展中国同太平洋岛国关系表明了立场，强调中国在发展同太平洋岛国关系上将继续奉行“四个坚持”：一是坚持平等相待。中方历来主张大小国家一律平等，将秉持正确义利观和真实亲诚理念发展同岛国的友好关系，把岛国作为南南合作的重要组成部分，作为构建人类命运共同体的重要伙伴。二是坚持相互尊重。中方始终尊重岛国的主权和领土完整，尊重岛国人民探索符合自身国情的发展道路，在同岛国的交往合作中，我们不干涉岛国内政，不附加任何政治条件，也不谋取任何地缘私利。三是坚持合作共赢，中国将继续做太平洋岛国发展的倡导者、建设者、推动者，致力于深化同岛国各领域务实合作，真诚帮助岛国发展经济、改善民生、提高自主发展能力，同岛国人民共享中国发展红利。四是坚持开放包容。南太地区应是开展合作的舞台，而不是恶性竞争的擂台。中方同岛国的合作不针对任何国家，也不受任何国家干扰。同时我们尊重岛国同其他国家业已建立的各种联系，愿本着开放态度，同其他域内外国家开展更多三方合作。?
During his visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also stated China’s position on developing relations with Pacific Island countries. He stressed that China will continue to follow four principles when developing relations with PICs. First, equal treatment.?It’s China’s consistent stance that all countries, big or small, are equal. When developing friendly relations with PICs, China will uphold justice while pursuing shared interests and follow the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith. China regards PICs as an important part of South-South cooperation and an important partner in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Second, mutual respect.?China always respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of PICs, as well as the PICs people’s efforts to explore development paths in line with their own national conditions. When conducting exchanges and cooperation with PICs, we never interfere in their internal affairs, never attach any political strings, and never seek any geopolitical self-interest. Third, win-win cooperation. China will continue to be an advocate, builder and promoter of PICs development. China stays committed to deepening pragmatic cooperation with PICs in various fields, sincerely helping PICs develop the economy, improve people’s well-being and enhance the capacity for self-driven development, and sharing the dividends of China’s development with the PICs people. Fourth, openness and inclusiveness. The South Pacific region should be a stage for cooperation, rather than an arena for vicious competition. China’s cooperation with PICs doesn’t target any country, nor will it be disrupted by any country.?
- 中国在对非合作中始终践行“四个坚持”和“五不”原则，一以贯之、日积月累，形成了一条特色鲜明的中非合作共赢之路。这些原则符合中国“己所不欲，勿施于人”的传统理念，契合非洲国家的根本利益和国际关系的基本准则，是中非团结合作的本质特征，对国际对非合作具有重要借 鉴意义。 “四个坚持”，即：——坚持真诚友好、平等相待。中国人民始终同非洲人民同呼吸、共命运，始终尊重非洲、热爱非洲、支持非洲。——坚持义利相兼、以义为先。中国在对非合作中主张多予少取、先予后取、只予不取，张开怀抱欢迎非洲搭乘中国发展快车。——坚持发展为民、务实高效。中国坚持把中非人民利益放在首位，为中非人民福祉而推进合作，让合作成果惠及中非人民；凡是中国答应非洲兄弟的事，就尽心尽力办好。——坚持开放包容、兼收并蓄。中国愿同国际合作伙伴一道，支持非洲和平与发展；凡是对非洲有利的事情，中国都欢迎和支持。?
Over the years, China has formed a distinctive approach to win-win cooperation with Africa. The approach is in line with the traditional Chinese philosophy, “Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.” It also corresponds to the fundamental interests of African countries and the basic norms of international relations. It is a hallmark of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation and can serve as a useful reference for international cooperation with Africa. China’s approach involves upholding four principles: – Upholding sincerity, friendship and equality. The Chinese people have worked together with African people in pursuit of a shared future. China respects, appreciates and supports Africa. – Upholding shared interests and the greater good, with greater emphasis on the latter.?In its cooperation with Africa, China applies the principles of giving more and taking less, giving before taking, and giving without asking for something in return. It welcomes African countries aboard the express train of China’s development with open arms.– Upholding a people-oriented approach in pursuing practical cooperation with efficiency. In its cooperation with Africa, China gives top priority to the interests and wellbeing of the peoples of China and Africa, and works to their benefit. China is committed to fully honoring the promises it has made to its African friends.– Upholding openness and inclusiveness. China stands ready to work with other international partners to support Africa in pursuing peace and development. It welcomes and supports all initiatives that further Africa’s interests.?
- 我们应继续坚持“领导人引领的战略论坛”定位，集中精力议大事、谋大势、增共识、控分歧；继续坚持东盟主导地位，照顾各方舒适度，保障大小国家平等参与地区事务；继续坚持发展和安全“双轮驱动”，认真落实《金边发展宣言》及其行动计划，聚焦经济社会发展，同时加强安全对话合作；继续坚持各机制协调发展，完善多层次区域合作架构。这“四个坚持”是各方都接受的最大公约数，是峰会十年发展取得的主要经验，也是峰会今后行稳致远的重要基础。?
We should continue to keep the EAS as a leaders-led strategic forum, focus on major issues of overarching importance and find ways to increase consensus and properly manage differences. We should continue to adhere to ASEAN centrality, be sensitive to the comfort level of all parties and ensure equal participation by all countries, big or small, in regional affairs. We should continue to give importance to both development and security, earnestly implement the Phnom Penh Declaration on the East Asia Summit Development Initiatives and its action plan, focus on economic and social development and at the same time, strengthen security dialogue and cooperation. We should continue to facilitate coordinated development of all the mechanisms and improve the multi-tiered regional cooperation architecture. These four points, acceptable to all parties, constitute the main experience of the growth of the EAS over the past decade, and the important basis for EAS to go far in the future.
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 习主席站在统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局的战略高度，鲜明提出党在新时代的强军目标，确立新时代军事战略方针，制定到2027年实现建军一百年奋斗目标、到2035年基本实现国防和军队现代化、到本世纪中叶全面建成世界一流军队的国防和军队现代化新“三步走”战略，引领人民军队在中国特色强军之路上阔步前行。?
Standing at the strategic height of coordinating the overall strategy of realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the great changes unseen in a century in the world, President Xi Jinping has set the Party's goal of building a strong military and devised the military strategic guideline for a new era and the new three-step roadmap for modernizing China's national defense and the armed forces, that is, achieving the military's centenary goal by 2027; basically completing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces by 2035; and fully transforming the armed forces into world-class forces by the mid-21st century, leading the people's military stride forward on the path of building a strong military with Chinese characteristics.?
- 改革开放之后，我们党对我国社会主义现代化建设作出战略安排，提出“三步走”战略目标。解决人民温饱问题、人民生活总体上达到小康水平这两个目标已提前实现。在这个基础上，我们党提出，到建党一百年时建成经济更加发展、民主更加健全、科教更加进步、文化更加繁荣、社会更加和谐、人民生活更加殷实的小康社会，然后再奋斗三十年，到新中国成立一百年时，基本实现现代化，把我国建成社会主义现代化国家。?
After adopting the policy of reform and opening up, our Party laid out three strategic goals for achieving socialist modernization in China. The first two—ensuring that people's basic needs are met and that their lives are generally decent—have been accomplished ahead of time. Building on this, our Party then developed the vision that by the time we celebrate our centenary, we will have developed our society into a moderately prosperous one with a stronger economy, greater democracy, more advanced science and education, thriving culture, greater social harmony, and a better quality of life. After this, with another 30 years of work, and by the time we celebrate the centenary of the People's Republic of China, we will have basically achieved modernization and turned China into a modern socialist country.
Recent PRC press conference quotes
- 新 的征程上，我们必须增强忧患意识、始终居安思危，贯彻总体国家安全观，统筹发展和安全，统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，深刻认识我 国社会主要矛盾变化带来的新特征新要求，深刻认识错综复杂的国际环境带来的新矛盾新挑战，敢于斗争，善于斗争，逢山开道、遇水架桥，勇于战胜一切风险挑 战！?
On the journey ahead, we must demonstrate stronger vigilance and always be prepared for potential danger, even in times of calm. We must adopt a holistic approach to national security that balances development and security imperatives, and implement the national rejuvenation strategy within a wider context of the once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world. We need to acquire a full understanding of the new features and requirements arising from the change to the principal contradiction in Chinese society and the new issues and challenges stemming from a complicated international environment. We must be both brave and adept in carrying out our struggle, forging new paths and building new bridges wherever necessary to take us past all risks and challenges.?
- 坚持总体国家安全观，加强国家安全体系和能力建设。?
We will pursue a holistic approach to national security and strengthen our national security system and capacity.?
- 坚决贯彻总体国家安全观，健全维护国家经济安全的体制机制，强化重大风险监测研判预警，守住不发生系统性风险的底线。?
We will firmly apply a holistic approach to national security. We will improve the systems and mechanisms for safeguarding national economic security, strengthen the monitoring, assessment, and early warning of major risks, and make sure no systemic risks arise.?
- 坚持总体国家安全观。统筹发展和安全，增强忧患意识，做到居安思危，是我们党治国理政的一个重大原则。必须坚持国家利益至上，以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本，统筹外部安全和内部安全、国土安全和国民安全、传统安全和非传统安全、自身安全和共同安全，完善国家安全制度体系，加强国家安全能力建设，坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。?
Pursuing a holistic approach to national security. We should ensure both development and security and be ever ready to protect against potential dangers in time of peace. This is a major principle underlying the Party's governance. We must put national interests first, take protecting our people's security as our mission and safeguarding political security as a fundamental task, and ensure both internal and external security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and China's own and common security. We will improve our systems and institutions and enhance capacity-building for national security, and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Two additional terms have yet to appear in any regular recent PRC press conference (but can be found both in monolingual materials and US resources):
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Nov/29/2003122279/-1/-1/1/2022-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF