China issues White Paper on “national defence in the new era”

BEIJING - China has issued a white paper to expound on its defensive national defence policy and explain the practice, purposes and significance of China's efforts to build a strong military.

The State newsagency, Xinhua, said the missions and tasks of China's armed forces are laid out in seven aspects: Safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests; maintaining combat readiness; carrying out military training in real combat conditions; safeguarding interests in major security fields; countering terrorism and maintaining stability; protecting China's overseas interests; and participating in disaster relief.

www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).