Earlier this week, media reports suggested that China had placed a new emphasis on preparing for war in response to recent events in the region, including the disputes in the South China Sea and the “pivot” in U.S. policy from the Middle East to Asia. According to the AFP, “Hu Jintao…urged the navy to prepare for military combat amid growing regional tensions over maritime disputes and a U.S. campaign to assert itself as a Pacific power.”
The AFP report, however, contained two significant errors. First, the report stated that Hu’s remarks were delivered at a meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC), suggesting they were part of a major policy speech. In fact, as reported in the PLA’s own newspaper (Chinese, English), the Jiefangjun Bao, Hu made the remarks when he and other members of the CMC met with party delegates from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Second, the report mistranslated a key term, junshi douzheng, as “military combat,” implying a new emphasis on preparations to fight a specific war.
Did Hu urge war? No.
To start, a literal and more accurate translation of junshi douzheng would be “military struggle” or, simply, “warfare.” In the phrase “preparations for military struggle,” the term refers to the characteristics of future wars that China may have to fight and the implications for the development of operational doctrine and training. It’s similar to the concept of operational readiness. Nevertheless, it does not refer to a desire to go war, much less preparations for specific combat operations.
By using this phrase, Hu was highlighting the importance of continued naval modernization to ensure that the PLAN would be prepared to fight in conflicts in the future, a goal shared by all military organizations. The U.S. military, for example, uses similar language to describe its force development goals. The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review described the objectives of America’s defense strategy as follows: “prevail in today’s wars, prevent and deter conflict, prepare to defeat adversaries and succeed in a wide range of contingencies, and preserve and enhance the All-Volunteer Force.”
More generally, the phrase “preparations for military struggle” is a standard, boilerplate formula used in Chinese military writings and speeches by Chinese leaders on military affairs. As shown in the chart below, the phrase appears frequently in articles in the print edition of the Jiefangjun Bao, the PLA’s official newspaper (though, interestingly, its use has been decreasing since 2005).
In addition, the AFP report missed the broader context in which this routine phrase was used. In particular, Hu urged the PLAN to deepen preparations for military struggle within the broader context of “closely focusing on the main theme of national defense and army-building.” The term “army-building” (jundui jianshe) refers to long-term force development goals, including personnel policies and force structure. Indeed, as shown in the chart below, these two phrases are often used together in Chinese statements, as they reflect different aspects of the PLA’s current modernization effort. For instance, in a September 2011 speech to researchers from the Academy of Military Science, CMC Vice Chairman General Guo Boxiong called on researchers “to meet the needs of army building and preparations for military struggle.”
Finally, the timing of Hu’s remarks to the PLAN delegates was probably a coincidence and not linked with the defense talks with the United States or events in the South China Sea in the past year. Members of the CMC routinely meet with deputies from various parts of the PLA and use the language of army building and preparations for military struggle in their remarks. This particular meeting occurred alongside an army-wide conference on weapons development that was probably scheduled months in advance, and may explain why the entire CMC met with the PLAN group.
In sum, Hu’s statement didn’t reflect a change in policy or a new emphasis on preparing for war. His routine statement received more attention than it warranted.
M. Taylor Fravel is an Associate Professor of Political Science and member of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He can be followed @fravel.
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Liang1a
http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/title/2011-12/07/content_4733898.htm
紧紧围绕国防和军队建设主题主线，大力弘扬我军优良传统，加快推进海军转型建设，
拓展深化军事斗争准备，扎实推进海军现代化，为捍卫国家安全、维护世界和平，
作出新的更大贡献。
Translation:
Tightly adhere to the main subject of national defense and the main direction
of military construction. Vigorously bring honor to the excellent tradition
of our military. Hasten the paradigm shift of the navy. Expand and deepen
the preparation for military conflict. Solidly advance the modernization
of the navy. To make even greater contribution to the defense of the national
security and the maintenance of world peace.
—————————————
Liang’s comment:
军事斗争 can be translated as military combat or military struggle. In this case it might also be translated as warfare. That is, China must be prepared for war or military conflict. In other words, Hu was exhorting the Chinese military to be prepared to fight a modern war. This is nothing remarkable as Hu and all Chinese leaders are always exhorting the Chinese military to be prepared to fight a modern war.
Also the meeting was to conclude the 11th 5-year plan and to discuss the preparation for the implementation of the 12th 5-year plan. Put in that background it is perfectly obvious that Hu’s remarks are not very significant with respect of calling the Chinese navy to go to war anywhere in the world now. Too bad. I’d be pleased to hear Hu give the order for China to go to war to take back China’s lost territories.
Vlad
Why is the author obfuscating things by getting into semantics?
Liang1a
Vlad wrote:
December 12, 2011 at 5:41 am
Why is the author obfuscating things by getting into semantics?
——————————–
Because it is the duty of the Western propagandists to demonize China and portray it as on the verge of launching catastrophic attacks on the Western world. I guess it is what sells in the West. Who would listen to a Western writer who portrays China as it really is which is a peace loving country struggling to provide its people with a higher standard of living?
Cam
@Liang1a,
“China is a peace loving country”, you said? What I am seeing is that you are nothing but twisted warmonger in this site all along. It is really sad that the Diplomat is now full of Chinese ultranationalists like you, whose war drum beating and dances are disgusting!
Bill
Right, because the PLA was the one invading Iraq on insufficient premises, bombing Libya without sufficient law, killing Pakistani soldiers without even so much as an apology, and sending carriers to the other side of the world.
Brittany
So he didn’t tell his military to attack America?
John Chan
@Brittany,
Hu told the PLAN to be vigilant at defending the motherland, the predatory imperialists are wicked and vicious, are working tirelessly to undermine China and to put China back to the dark days of unequal treaties. They should not let the capitalist materialistic enjoyment to corrupt them, let their guard down and neglect their sacred duty, because PLAN is the first line of defense of the motherland.
nagbabagang tarugo
So, he didn’t mention attacking the United States of America?
John Chan
Hu told the PLAN to be vigilant at defending the motherland, the predatory imperialists are wicked and vicious, are working tirelessly to undermine China and to put China back to the dark days of unequal treaties. Especially there is a very vocal imperialist’s lackey which is very annoying and detrimental to the peace environment in SE Asia, PLAN must be ready to muffle that vocal lackey on the moment of notice from CMC.
leekin
The writer gives the reader a convincing description of the phrases “military combat” and it is indeed not meaning “preparing for a specific war” in the Chinese Language,or implying that China will launch war against other countries who are criticizing China over disputes.As the author said,it means China must take preparation to face the unwanted warfare in the future.
Liang1a
What happened to my post?
Reason
Hu’s comments should come as no surprise.
This is classic, predictable actions of a Chinese leader –
Warn in a general way
Warn in a specific way
Final warning
Surprise attack….
see article .. http://www.chimericawar.org/total_warfare/2011/12/Is_Hu_preparing_for_war_
In reality Chinese leaders are realist, despite their continual exhortations of “We come in peace”
Peace is defined by being in harmony with the Motherland – if a neighboring country insists on walking its own path then war will eventually come to them. This is Chinese history, over and over and over and over again. It’s not like their aren’t any precedents for this kind of action.
China Neighbor
In her history, Chinese ancestors were to be very cruel, crafty and evil much more than others. Their chareacteristics were reflected through many films that I have seen. Therefore, their current generations are not different much from their ancestors. The world should be careful about them. No one dare to attacks China, but China always finds means and ways to invade other countries. China has a famous policy so called “the soft China border”. China people consider this policy as where ever there is a Chinese living, it is a China border.
Cyrus14
Japan and Mongolia did attack though.
Liang1a
http://chn.chinamil.com.cn/title/2011-12/07/content_4733898.htm
胡锦涛会见海军党代会和全军装备工作会议代表
Translation:
Hu Jintao met with Naval party representatives and All Military Equipment Preparation Work Representative.
紧紧围绕国防和军队建设主题主线，大力弘扬我军优良传统，加快推进海军转型建设，
拓展深化军事斗争准备，扎实推进海军现代化，为捍卫国家安全、维护世界和平，
作出新的更大贡献。
Translation:
Tightly adhere to the main subject of national defense and the main direction
of military construction. Vigorously bring honor to the excellent tradition
of our military. Hasten the paradigm shift of the navy. Expand and deepen
the preparation for military conflict. Solidly advance the modernization
of the navy. To make even greater contribution to the defense of the national
security and the maintenance of world peace.
全军装备工作会议5日在京召开，主要任务是：认真总结“十一五”时期全军装备工
作，全面部署“十二五”时期装备建设发展和部队装备工作任务，统一思想、明确
要求，在新的起点上推进武器装备建设科学发展。
Translation:
The All Military Equipment Work Meeting took place on the 5th in Beijing. Its main duty is to summarize the work done in the military equipment work in the “11th 5″ (the 11th 5-year plan). Comprehensively implement the preparation and development and the equipment preparation work duties of the “12th 5″ period. As well as to unify philosophy, clarify needs, and advance from a new starting point the scientific development of arms and equipment building.
———————————–
Hu Jintao was addressing a meeting of groups of military personnel who are responsible for developing and equipping the Chinese military. Of course, it is natural for Hu to talk about making sure China is prepared to wage wars because it is the duty of these people to make the arms and equipments to allow the Chinese military to wage wars effectively. Therefore, Hu’s reference to being “prepared for military conflict” is not a call for immediate wars anywhere in S. China Sea or E. China Sea or anywhere in the world. It is too bad in a way because many Chinese would welcome a call to arms to liberate the occupied territories in the surrounding seas and land.
Liang1a
I have posted twice in this thread. And both times my post disappeared. What’s going on?
diplomat_admin
They went to the spam folder, perhaps because you led with a link. We’ve retrieved them now.
Liang1a
diplomat_admin wrote:
December 11, 2011 at 7:20 pm
They went to the spam folder, perhaps because you led with a link. We’ve retrieved them now.
————————
Thanks. I will not lead with a link in the future. Any other reasons that would make the posts go to the spam folder?
Thomas
“The AFP report, however, contained two significant errors”
These errors are deliberate to manipulate the masses and justify the unlimited military spending of the West!
nirvana
Taylor Fravel is a well-known defender of China’s “peaceful rise”. It is interesting to note that the Global Times also ran in parallel an editorial titled “World over-thinking China’s military intention”. The Global Times editorialist did not expand into the split-hair “translation errors”. Its reproach to World’s media was essentially their obsession on the terms “preparation for military warfare” (or “struggle”, “combat” whatever). It rightly pointed out that they are routinely used in the peaceful rise time of China. Nothing to be excited about.
Indeed, why don’t we focus rather on the other parts of Hu’s speech.
-“Tightly adhere to the main subject of defense”. Perhaps he was alluding to the imbroglio of the last minute arms sales attempt in Lybia? Perhaps he was fed-up of the military also thinking that “becoming rich is glorious”.
-“Vigorously bring honor to the excellent tradition…”. Perhaps it is an oblique comment on the cable cuttings and other dubious operations in the South China Sea?
-“Solidly advance the modernization of the navy”. This could mean: before asking for the green light to conduct some “tiny scale” wars, prove to me first that the 7th fleet will be deterred to intervene.
-“To make even greater contribution…”. => You are soldiers, stay where you are and at least be prepared for sacrifices instead of asking for political play.
Stinky
“Military struggle” or “military conflict” – sadly, the distinction doesn’t matter very much to me. All this talk from China in recent about “hostile foreign forces” and the need to strengthen and perhaps use its military in defense of Tibet, Xinjiang, the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea, China’s honor, fits a general pattern and trend of behavior. Hu Jintao’s comments may be tamer than those we read nearly everyday in the Chinese edition of the Global Times and other nationalist rags; nevertheless, they fit the larger pattern.
All this talk about the West’s “demonization” of China that we hear from earnest Chinese patriots and their defenders in the West seems to miss the point that China gives at least as good as it gets. That is, however much the West “demonizes” China (and it does happen), China engages in at least as much “demonization” of the West.
Liang1a
Cam wrote:
December 13, 2011 at 12:50 am
@Liang1a,
“China is a peace loving country”, you said? What I am seeing is that you are nothing but twisted warmonger in this site all along. It is really sad that the Diplomat is now full of Chinese ultranationalists like you, whose war drum beating and dances are disgusting!
————————————–
Yes, I said China is a peace loving country. If it weren’t it would have long ago wiped Philippines and Vietnam out of China’s sovereign territories in the S. China Sea. The warmongers are those that invade China’s sovereign territories and threaten China with war. Defending one’s motherland is not warmongering. Those that invade China’s sovereign territories are the real warmongers.
I’m glad to see more Chinese becoming enlightened and patriotic. If I have been responsible for a little bit of that then I’m please. War drums beating for DEFENSE is righteous. The war drums being beaten by you invaders are heinous.
a_canadian_observer
@Liang1a: No, I say China is NOT a peace loving country. If it were it would NOT have long ago tried to wipe out Vietnam multiple times during history. It would not be trying to claim other nations’ sovereign territories in the SEA Sea.
The warmongers are those that invade others’ sovereign territories and threaten them with war. Defending one’s motherland is not warmongering. Those that invade others’ sovereign territories are the real warmongers. In this case, china is the real culprit.
I’m sad to see more Chinese becoming brainwashed and blind-ultra-nationalistic. If you have been responsible for a little bit of that then you should be ashamed . War drums beating for DEFENSE is righteous. The war drums being beaten by you invaders are heinous.
P.S. I usually agreed with you on many issues within china. But this time you’re way off scale. I guess the only option for you/china is to wage war with others. When will you start?
Fullspec
China is historically a peaceful country. It is a well know western fact that Chinese explorers reached the new world long before the Europeans (please go ahead and try to refute this), and charted most of the world before the same. European explorers were using Chinese maps on their voyages. I admire the passion and pride that the Europeans have when they try to deny this, but this is fact. They made relations on their travels, possibly made friends, engaged in trade, and most of them returned home. When the Europeans arrived in the new world, they plundered and occupied. They were the cause of such a sharp decline in native populations in Africa, and North and South America. They are still doing this today. They now fear China’s rise and are spreading lies, trying to get its neighbors to turn against it. Divide and conquer is an excellent strategy, but this is the 21st century and we are still seeing regime change around the world, puppet leaders, illegal interference by western nations in other regional affairs, and of course mass murder all in the interests of retaining US global dominance. How can some people be so blind to the true “warmongers”?? In summary, China is a peace loving country. Perhaps you should see it for yourself. If you can climb out of the pit of propaganda.
a_canadian_observer
@Fullspec: “Perhaps you should see it for yourself. If you can climb out of the pit of propaganda.”
Perhaps you should see it for yourself. If you can climb out of the pit of CCP propaganda.
Bill
@a_canadian_observer
Propaganda is not needed to know that the US military is by far the most active and aggressive military force in the past century. And unless Iraqi and Vietnamese forces launched attacks on the US mainland, those wars were initiated on unjustified grounds.
Liang1a
Fullspec wrote:
December 14, 2011 at 7:52 am
They now fear China’s rise and are spreading lies, trying to get its neighbors to turn against it. Divide and conquer is an excellent strategy, but this is the 21st century and we are still seeing regime change around the world, puppet leaders, illegal interference by western nations in other regional affairs, and of course mass murder all in the interests of retaining US global dominance. How can some people be so blind to the true “warmongers”?? In summary, China is a peace loving country. Perhaps you should see it for yourself. If you can climb out of the pit of propaganda.
—————————
Liang’s response:
Well said Fullspec! These are historically correct and morally uprighteous refutations of those who want to demonize China as warmonger. No people who are objective can deny the peacefulness of the Chinese and the belligerence of the Westerners, the Indians, and the Japanese as well as the various natives of S. E. Asia. China alone had never sent out military expeditions to conquer and plunder. It is ironic that the biggest and the most heinous warmongers and rapacious plunderers and brutal colonizers are now the loudest demonizers of China as warmonger.
nirvana
>>”China is historically a peaceful country. It is a well know western fact that Chinese explorers reached the new world long before the Europeans (please go ahead and try to refute this), and charted most of the world before the same. European explorers were using Chinese maps on their voyages.” (Fullspec)
—
Many of us have missed this challenge from Blogger Fullspec. He was alluded to the famous “1421 theory” propagated by the British submariner Menzies whereby Zheng He would have circumnavigated the Earth in that year. I have already refuted this in my comments to the Diplomat article “China’s starter carrier, no shock”, in the Flashpoint of December 6th.
LeNguyen
This article from a China apologist author is “much-to-do-about-nothing” and simply aimed at giving Chinese bloggers opportunities for throwing distortions/insults/slanders/threats… at Chinese neighbors. As current voices and activities indicated, ASEAN are gradually preparing military, diplomatic and political upgrades to address no one but China’s aggressiveness. Chinese words don’t mean anything and Chinese leaders/official bloggers can’t threaten anyone. Individually, no SCS nation can confront China alone but with increased global assistance and willingness to face common bully, China will have a fight that it can not win. So, Hu Jintao is right: China should prepare and/or call for war now. Addionally, he is also advised to prepare Chinese population for consequences of war. That is only the responsible way for a Chinese leader to go.
Fullspec
You are right in saying that China’s leaders and bloggers can’t threaten anyone. They have no intention of making direct or indirect threats, nor do they need to. So why do you state that SCS nations are addressing China’s “aggressiveness”? There is no perceived threat to any Asian nation. China cannot afford to engage in any regional offensive, not because it cannot win, but because it is not their desire to attack any of its neighbors. But Southeast Asian nations don’t see it this way because of hundreds of years of occupation and enslavement by western powers. And they got into their positions because they lacked a foundation for any sort of effective defiance. Now that these countries have a true opportunity to work collectively and as a unified force in the region, it seems they would rather use this against a mythical threat from what is undoubtedly the most powerful force in the region that is China. Stop submitting to the lies in the media regarding the distrust in China and try to work together for a united Asia that can be mutually beneficial and that can ensure peace in the region. Goodness knows these southeast Asian countries need China.
a_canadian_observer
@Fullspec: I suggest that you do some research before blogging here. What do you call harashing, beating and killing poor VN and PH fishermen fishing in their EEZ by chinese navy disguised in surveilance boat crews?
Liang1a
nirvana wrote:
December 12, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Indeed, why don’t we focus rather on the other parts of Hu’s speech.
-“Vigorously bring honor to the excellent tradition…”. Perhaps it is an oblique comment on the cable cuttings and other dubious operations in the South China Sea?
—————————
Liang’s response:
No, nirvana, it is a reference to the defeat of the Indian invaders in 1962 as they tried to grab Chinese territories when China was threatened by other enemies. China tanned the hides of the Indians but unwisely retreated after their easy victory. Next time China should not retreat. Chinese citizens in Zhang Nan are now pining for liberation by their motherland’s military in its glorious tradition of defeating the Indian rag tag military who break and run at the first sound of Chinese guns.
==================================
nirvana wrote:
December 12, 2011 at 7:22 pm
-“Solidly advance the modernization of the navy”. This could mean: before asking for the green light to conduct some “tiny scale” wars, prove to me first that the 7th fleet will be deterred to intervene.
——————————
Liang’s response:
7th Fleet can intervene all its wants but it’s not going to do any good. They’d all be sunk before they can approach within 2,000 km of China’s coast. That is, they’d all be at the bottom of the Pacific or Indian Ocean long before they’re within range to launch their fighters.
Also there are no good reasons for the US to intervente. Why should the US fight to help tiny countries to steal Chinese sovereign territories? Ultimately, there is nothing in Asia for the benefit of the US without China. That is, the current boom in S. E. Asia is due to the increased investment of China. Therefore, if the US stirred up a war in SE Asia then the local economies would all collapse and the US would have nothing to gain. It is in the best interest of the US to just sit and watch as China take back its sovereign territories and then proceed to invest and expand the SE Asian economies. Then the expanded economies of SE Asia can benefit the US by buying more American products.
And last but not the least, the US is bankrupt. I don’t think I need to elaborate on that sad fact. Therefore, the US cannot fight any kind of war against China, especially since it is counterproductive for the US as I explained above. Therefore, there are many reasons why the 7th Fleet will be deterred to fight any war against China based on military, political and economic reasons. Anybody with an ounce of brain can easily see that.
LeNguyen
Diplomat Monitor- Where’s my reply to Fullspec Dec15?
Lung Sha Shou
Splitting hairs over meanings of struggle vs combat.
Mao spoke of the Pacific Ocean not being peaceful until we (the Chinese) control it.
This author is typical of the Western legalistic graduation “yes but” mindset – the sort of idiot that might say oh yes they are building thousands of kilometers worth of tunnels because they desperately want peace, of threaten Australia with nuclear missiles saying be careful “you are within strategic missile range” in response to a couple of thousand marines being stationed here.
It is liberals like author that enable the fascist totalitarian PRC Regime to advance their increasingly strident and bellicose stance whilst murdering, enslaving, and stealing from their own people and others.
Just because there is a corrupt kleptocracy in Washington does not make the threat from a smarter, more efficient and ruthless enemy in Beijing any the less dangerous.
The morality (and violence) with which they treat the people of Wukan, Falun Dafa, Tibet, anyone who organises labor, the Churches, is what you are in effect supporting – ever heard of the “phrase bide your time, don’t claim leadership, develop your capabilities?” – How about “political power comes out of the barrel of a gun?”
On coming into office Hu Jintao was advised by Jiang Xemin to spend 4 of 5 days with the military. They recognise the civilian is there to support the state. They intend on becoming the Hegemon.
Don’t you think it is just a little bit odd that their education system bleats on about the century of foreign humiliation, and omits the SCORES OF MILLIONS OF DEATHS caused by Mao? That doesn’t suggest something.
Grievances are being nursed, preparations are being made. In time the West WILL be made to pay.
Peaceful Rise? Yeah Hitler was a man of peace