Thaindian News

Beijing, March 31 (IANS) China would not pursue military expansion, it declared in a white paper on national defence issued Thursday.

The document, seventh of its kind the Chinese government has issued since 1998, says China will never seek hegemony, nor will it adopt the approach of military expansion now or in the future, no matter how its economy develops, reported Xinhua.

It gives an overall picture of China’s national defence ranging from the security environment, national defence policy, to defence expenditure and arms control.

On security environment, the white paper said the world remains peaceful and stable at large, but the international security situation has become more complex and military competition remains fierce.

China is confronted by more diverse and complex security challenges, it said.

China pursues a national defence policy which is defensive in nature, the white paper said. Such a pursuit is determined by China’s development path, its fundamental aims, its foreign policy, and its historical and cultural traditions.

The white paper reviewed the modernisation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), saying it has grown from a single service into a strong military force featuring a range of services and arms, and is now beginning to make progress towards “informationization”.

On defence expenditure, the white paper says the increase has been kept at a reasonable and appropriate level.

China’s defence expenditure mainly comprises expenses for personnel, training and maintenance, and equipment, with each accounting for roughly one third of the total.

In view of the upward trend in purchasing prices and maintenance costs, China has moderately increased the funds for high-tech weaponry and equipment and their supporting facilities, Xinhua said.

The white paper also reviewed the deployment of the Chinese armed forces, national defence mobilization and reserve force building, military legal system, as well as science, technology and industry for national defence.