A Strategic Concept of Active Defense
The concept of active defense underpins the CPC's military strategy and guides China's decision-making in relation to the use of military force.
It was developed by the people's military in the long years of revolutionary wars. It calls for a balance between a strategic defensive posture and offensives in battles and campaigns, and focuses on self-defense, that is, the use of military force only for defensive purposes and only when we are attacked. In other words, "we will not attack unless we are attacked; if we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack."
As a socialist country, China promotes peace in international relations and pursues peaceful development, and it is natural that our defense policy is defensive in nature. The concept of active defense should be enriched by taking into account contemporary imperatives, so that we can deter wars, respond to any crises that may emerge, and win wars when they do occur.
积极防御战略思想
积极防御战略思想是中国共产党军事战略思想的基本点，是中国指导军事斗争和军事力量运用的根本方针。在长期革命战争实践中，人民军队形成了一整套积极防御战略思想，坚持战略上防御与战役战斗上进攻的统一，坚持防御、自卫、后发制人的原则，坚持“人不犯我、我不犯人，人若犯我、我必犯人”。中国是社会主义国家，奉行和平外交政策，坚持走和平发展道路，从根本上决定了在战略上始终是积极防御。坚持积极防御战略思想，必须从时代条件出发，丰富和完善积极防御战略思想的内涵，更加有效地塑造态势、管控危机、遏制战争、打赢战争。