Diversified Regional Security Threats ——The Necessity for Transformation in Military Education Maj. Gen. Ren Haiquan NDU, PLA China October 2007

I. Diversified security threats II. Required changes in the missions and responsibilities of the armed forces III. New missions for military education Diversified Regional Security Threats And the Necessity for Transformation in Military Education

I. Diversified security threats The harsh reality is that regional security has been facing with diversified security threats. Traditional security threats continue to exist at the same time when non-traditional security issues have been becoming more and more disturbing, posing an ever- increasing important factor in regional security ￭ Traditional issues” mainly refer to core security issues that are traditionally thought to be vital to national survival. They include safeguarding national sovereign independence and territorial integrity, containing possible foreign aggression, and etc. ￭ non-traditional security issues mainly refer to issues that are also of great importance to the survival and development of a nation, or issues other than traditional security issues, such as international terrorism ; the security of sea-lane of communication ; transnational crimes ; and etc..

II. Required changes in the missions and responsibilities of the armed forces In the new security environment, there must be some corresponding changes in military construction and preparation. Of course, the armed forces must continue to prepare of possible wars or armed conflicts, and execute war operations that their respective governments entrust them. On the other hand, they must get ready for various kinds of security threats or challenges other than war.

Changes in PLA’s missions ￭ “The armed forces of the People’s Republic of China belong to the people. Their missions include consolidating national defense, safeguarding the country and peaceful labor of the people, participating in national development, and serve the people whole-heartedly.” “The people in active military service should carry on the good traditions of the people’s army, love the people, protect the people, take part in socialist construction of material and spiritual civilizations, and accomplish tasks such as disaster relief.” ----Defense Law of the PRC ￭ “The PLA, the Armed Police and militia forces are obliged to perform such tasks as flood prevention and disaster relief.” ----Flood Prevention Law of the PRC ￭ “The armed forces are the main forces in disaster relief. Performing the tasks of disaster relief is the important task entrusted by the state”. ----Regulation on the Participation of the Armed Forces in Disaster Relief

PLA soldiers in joint anti-terrorism exercise with Pakistan forces in 2007 PLA and US navy in SAR joint exercises in 2006 PLA and Tajikistan soldiers in anti-terrorism joint exercisesPLA and foreign soldiers in anti-terrorism joint exercises

III. New missions for military education The expanding missions and tasks for the armed forces have put new requirements in respect of ability and quality upon officers at different levels. Nowadays, an officer must be able to command not only war operations but also various operations other than war. This calls for broader strategic vision, in-depth understanding of non-traditional security, the ability to accomplish operations other than war, the capability of rapid response and aptly handling of all kinds of public contingencies, the skills of effective coordination and cooperation, and the ability of performing military operations other than war together with the armed forces of other nations. Military education institutions have paid little attention to the development of such abilities of officers in the past, and some changes must be made in the future.

Major adjustments in China’s military education ▲ Increase of courses specifically focusing on military operations other than war ▲ Enrolling more civilian officials from various government agencies ▲ Increase of curricula dealing with anti-terrorism, disaster relief, military operations other than war, inter-agency coordination and etc.

Adaptive adjustments taken by NDU ▲ Enhanced research ▲ New courses offered ▲ Adjustments in curricula ▲ Enhanced international exchanges

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