From Chinese Press

National defense news made easy

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-04 07:58

The regular press conference system of the Ministry of National Defense has instilled confidence in the public and demonstrated the openness of China's military, signaling an important step toward increasing transparency, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

The establishment of such a system is in line with the modernization of the country's armed forces. China's economic and social development has helped it to strengthen its military. China's defensive national defense policy is recognized by the international community and has given its military a peaceful image.

But China's national defense spending and reform, and military development have generated certain doubts in some quarters abroad. These can be explained through facts.

The regular press conferences that the Ministry of National Defense holds will help clear many of the doubts. The White Paper on National Defense published earlier in response to domestic and overseas concerns over China's defense policy has already cleared many such doubts.

The press conference system is a logical choice to guarantee people the right to know. Through regular news release, the government can meet people's expectations on openness and let them know the status of national defense and the military. Indeed, national security demands that information on some aspects of national defense be kept secret, and that is true of every country in the world.

As the press conference system improves with more authoritative information, it will become an important window for people at home and abroad to better know China's national defense policy and the state of its military.  

(China Daily 05/04/2011 page9)