China White Paper on Natl. Defense: PLA has expanding role in the New Era

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China has issued its latest version of the White Paper on national defense, elaborating on its defense policy, the missions and tasks of the armed forces. It reaffirms the policy is defensive in nature. The document also lays out the expanding role of the People's Liberation Army. CGTN correspondent Han Bin has more.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, in what's being called the New Era.

The profound transformation includes the command system, the force composition, priorities, and military institutions.

The goals are a modern combat-ready force and to take more international responsibilities, like the escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. The nature of its development and trends are explained in the latest white paper.

WU QIAN, SPOKESMAN CHINESE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE "Today we have officially released the white paper China's national defense in the New Era. And it is also the first comprehensive national defense white papers since the 18th National Congress of the CPC. The purpose of releasing this white paper is to elaborate on the national defense policy of China in the new era which is defensive in nature."

The document makes clear that "national defense policy is defensive in nature and will never seek hegemony or expansion."

Priority is given to strengthening the military and building a world-class force. The army will also asserts a new global scope for China's security interests and flexibility in protecting them.

This white paper comes amid a complex international security situation, and rising strategic competition, like the US unilateralism.

China believes it faces diverse security threats, including separatism in Taiwan and territorial disputes over islands and reefs, as well as frequent close-in reconnaissance of its territorial waters by some countries.

The paper says that one of the key missions of the PLA today is to protect China's overseas interests. The army is having greater involvement in global security affairs. This is commensurate with the strength of China's rise, and its interests around the world.

HAN BIN BEIJING "This is the tenth defense white paper since the first in 1998. The paper lays out the changing aspects of the army under President Xi Jinping's leadership and the growing transparency of the PLA in global affairs. The real impact of these developments, under the guidelines of China's defense policy is yet to be seen. Han Bin, CGTN, Beijing."