China's long and profound quest for peace

Beijing, China, December 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
The concept of “Hehe” in Chinese culture, the first “He” embodying harmony, peace and balance and the second representing convergence, unity and cooperation, is at the heart of the individual and collective mentality in China. Rooted in thousands of years of philosophy, the idea of ​​“Hehe” serves as a guiding principle for living in harmony with others, nature, and oneself. In a broader context, the concept of “Hehe” bears significant importance in today's world, because addressing the global challenges we face in various fields requires the principles put forward by “Hehe”. Viewed from a contemporary perspective, “Hehe” is a timeless and universal concept that can guide China and the world toward a more harmonious, peaceful and balanced future. The Global Times collects opinions from experts and scholars around the world to explore the global significance of “Hehe” culture from different perspectives. This is the third coin in the series.

The Chinese nation has had a long and deep quest for peace, and Chinese culture is characterized by deep-rooted ideas about harmony. The Chinese people have always had sincere aspirations for a better and peaceful world, and have practiced “turning swords into plowshares” for thousands of years.

The Chinese expression “turning swords into plowshares” expresses the people's desire to lay down their arms in pursuit of peace and serves as a warning to humanity not to provoke war again, because maintaining peace is what really deserves our efforts.

Gunpowder was first invented by the Chinese. It was originally used for fireworks to honor the gods rather than to make war bullets, unlike in Europe. China has demonstrated to the world that technological advancements are aimed at fostering a safer world rather than inflicting harm.

Why wasn't gunpowder, invented in China, used in war? This stems from the Chinese nation's values ​​and ideals of peace, harmony and coexistence, which are manifested in China's Hehe culture.

The Chinese nation does not have a genetic predisposition to invade others or seek hegemony; rather, the quest for peace constitutes the constant aspiration of the Chinese people. The ancient Chinese military treatise The Art of War states: “The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a path to safety or to ruin. It is therefore a subject of investigation which cannot under any circumstances be neglected. » His main message is to approach war with caution and, wherever possible, to avoid it altogether.

The concepts “harmony should be valued” and “harmony in diversity” have been passed down from generation to generation, becoming deeply ingrained in the minds of the Chinese people and reflected in their actions. Historically, China was once one of the most powerful countries in the world, but it left behind no record of colonization or foreign invasion. In modern times, the Chinese people have suffered greatly from invasion and war, which has made them deeply appreciate peace and recognize the urgency of development.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has never started wars or conflicts and has never occupied even one square centimeter of foreign territory. Following reform and opening-up, China has devoted itself to promoting world peace, significantly reducing its military personnel by more than four million. China's development from poverty to becoming the world's second largest economy was not built on the charity of others, much less military expansion or colonial exploitation, but rather on hard work of its people and the maintenance of peace, which contributed to stability and positivity. in a tumultuous international landscape.

The growing strength of the Chinese military represents a growing force for world peace. As Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized, China is “a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order.” The Chinese military not only provides strategic support to safeguard foreign interests, but also increasingly takes on the mission of maintaining world peace. The stronger China's military becomes, the more effectively it can deter war and strengthen peace, thereby enhancing global stability and development.

China has become the largest contributor of troops to peacekeeping operations among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments. From 2008 to 2024, the Chinese military sent 46 escort forces to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia, actively participating in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Whether on the front lines of disaster relief or defending peace, the presence of the Chinese military occupies an important place in many issues of common concern within the international community.

China has the best record on peace and security, and is the only country in the world that has committed to “following the path of peaceful development” in its Constitution. A great nation of more than 1.4 billion people adhering to a path of peaceful development itself constitutes a stable and powerful force for maintaining world peace.

What the Chinese military offers on the world stage is security rather than threat, and opportunity rather than challenge. It has faithfully implemented concepts such as the Global Security Initiative and the idea of ​​a community with a shared future for humanity. The Chinese military pursues its own security while upholding collective security, promoting the establishment of multilateral security cooperation mechanisms, and implementing a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

From bilateral to multilateral engagements, from regional waters to distant seas, and from “exit” to “introduction”, China has hosted a number of military diplomatic events, including the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Naval Symposium of the Western Pacific and the China-Forum on Peace and Security in Africa.

Thus, China has maintained frequent exchanges with senior militaries of different countries, established defense and security consultation mechanisms with neighboring countries, and collaborated with all parties to address various international and regional security challenges. .

Furthermore, the Chinese military is taking on increasingly greater responsibilities and playing a more vital role in maintaining global peace and regional stability. No matter how times change, the Chinese military will always remain a disciplined force for peace and justice. It will actively shoulder its responsibilities and obligations commensurate with China's international position, provide more public security products to the world, and contribute to building lasting peace and universal security for a better future.

The ability to fight helps avoid war. Without continued conflict prevention, the ability to engage in combat could easily degenerate into militarism and external aggression.

Conversely, without the strength to fight, the desire to end war is just wishful thinking. It is therefore crucial to maintain strategic clarity regarding the potential risks of war and to leverage military force in crisis management and war deterrence. Only in this way can we effectively prevent war and decisively prevail in any potential conflict.

The author is a researcher at the Research Center on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army. [email protected]

Business: World Time

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