China should enhance ability to fight, win wars

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA)’s active and arduous participation in the Korean War (1950-53) against the US.

Seventy years ago, when the US forces invaded the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), brought the war to China’s northeastern border and occupied the island of Taiwan, whether China should send its troops to fight or take on the US in the face of aggression from a strong enemy and the threat of war was a crucial strategic issue politically, militarily and diplomatically.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman Mao Zedong were far-sighted. Confronted with the difficult and complicated domestic and international situation, in the face of great disparity in strength between ourselves and the enemy, they assessed compressively the pros and cons for the two sides, and with enormous political encouragement and strategic determination, they resolutely made the historic decision to resist the US, aid the DPRK and safeguard China. After two years and nine months of bloody fighting, the PVA won a great victory in the war.

Now 70 years later, the world is changing in a way unseen in a century. In particular, due to the impact of the ravaging COVID-19, major changes have taken place in the international strategic landscape, and China’s security is facing severe challenges. Revisiting the essence of China’s strategic decision-making during the Korean War, and deriving strategic will, strategic wisdom and spiritual strength from it is of great significance to the continuous victory of the great struggle with new historical characteristics.

To undertake the great struggle in the new era, we must have the will to fight and the confidence to win. There are a lot of things we can learn from China’s participation in the Korean War.

First, to safeguard national security interests and actively carry out international struggles were the realistic considerations for the CPC Central Committee and Chairman Mao in making the decision to send troops to resist US aggression and assist the DPRK. China and the DPRK share borders. If the entire DPRK was occupied by the US, US troops would be stationed along the Yalu River bordering the DPRK, and China’s national security would be seriously threatened.

Second, to engage in one decisive fighting to avoid being forced to fight 100 times was the overall consideration of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman Mao in sending troops to participate in the Korean War. After the founding of the PRC, the US adopted a hostile policy toward China, imposing a blockade economically, and encircling it militarily.

Chairman Mao pointed out that the US wanted to put three sharp knives in our body – one in our head from the DPRK, one in our waist from the island of Taiwan, and one in our feet from Vietnam; if the world changed, the US would attack us from the three directions, and we would be in a passive position. Resisting the US and assisting the DPRK meant denying the US wishful thinking. After China’s victory in the Korean War, the US no longer dared to try to make military invasion of China.

Third, laying a solid foundation for the long-term peace and development of China was the overall consideration of the CPC Central

Committee and Chairman Mao to make the decision.

After the founding of the PRC, there was an urgent need for peaceful development. China could not ignore US attempts to control the whole of the DPRK. Even if the US did not cross the Yalu River, China would have to live under US threat from time to time, and would have difficulties in having peaceful development.

In the new era, when engaging in great struggles with new historical features, we must be good at taking into account both the present situation and the long-term scenarios, and ensure that the socialist ship with Chinese characteristics is able to brave the stormy waves and maintain the stability to go far. We must continue to make a strong country and strong armed forces the greatest anchor for our security.

We will work hard to cultivate the will to fight, strengthen our sense of mission, responsibility and urgency to be ready for war, and make solid progress in training and preparing for war in a combatready state. We will effectively enhance our ability to fight and win wars, resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and effectively fulfill the sacred missions and tasks the people’s army has been entrusted in the new era.