III. The PLA Army
Through unremitting efforts over the past 50 years and more, the PLA has grown into a modernized armed force with both deterring and war-fighting capabilities. However, the PLA is not yet modernized enough to win future informatized wars, nor is it capable enough to fulfill its historical missions in the new century. The PLA's main task in the modernization drive is to push forward its overall transformation.
As the mainstay of the PLA, our Army is a strategic force approaching the world's advanced level. Accounting for more than half of the PLA, our Army has performed historic feats and boasts glorious traditions. To conduct joint operations under conditions of informatization, we have accelerated the Army's modernization drive in an effort to achieve information integration, equip the Army with new main battle weaponry and adapt it to the digitized battlefield. At present, the PLA Army is focusing on building digitized troops capable of all-domain maneuver, rapid deployment, tri-dimensional offensive and defensive operations, systemic resistance and precision strike. These are all capabilities necessary for winning future wars.
The PLA Army is tasked with responding to various security threats and accomplishing diversified missions. While heavily involved in domestic disaster relief operations, the PLA Army has actively fulfilled our international humanitarian obligations. Since 1998, the PLA Army has deployed more than 20,000 troops to 20 UN Peacekeeping Operations. It has sent specialized teams to Indonesia, Haiti, Pakistan and Japan for disaster relief missions and actively participated in international humanitarian minesweeping efforts. In addition, it has conducted 30 plus joint military drills and exercises with the land forces of other countries focusing on counter-terrorism and disaster relief. Through all these efforts, the PLA Army made positive contributions to regional peace and stability.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The aim of China's reform and opening up is to develop itself and integrate itself into the world, and so China's progress is closely related to that of the wider world. Peaceful development is essentially seeking self-development in a relatively peaceful international environment and in turn promoting world peace through our own development. Unswervingly committed to the path of peaceful development and a defense policy purely defensive in nature, China will never engage in any arms race, nor will it seek hegemony or expansion. China will not pose a military threat to any other country. We in the PLA are true patriots devoted to our country and our people. As staunch guardians of world peace, the PLA will contribute more to regional peace and stability.
Thank you.
