Chapter 7 Beyond the Cold War Mindset

When it comes to "Cold War mentality", my gut reaction is to treat new security threats with traditional thinking, especially during the Cold War period, which is of course wrong.But some of us are also worried that there is a "Cold War mentality" everywhere in the world today. If we want to go beyond it, won't we be fooled? Rejecting peace, development, and cooperation due to differences in social systems and ideologies, and striving for and seeking hegemony all at once is called "Cold War mentality."We soberly estimate that in today's world, while peace and development have become the theme of the times, there are indeed "Cold War mentality" and various other security threats.Because of this, we have always maintained a high degree of self-consciousness, adhered to independence, and insisted on continuously enhancing our economic strength, comprehensive national strength, including national defense strength.However, is it because the "Cold War mentality" still exists in the world today, should we follow others to engage in the Cold War mentality, and take the road that harms others and eventually harms ourselves?Of course not!I think it should be the opposite. The more there is a "Cold War mentality" in the world, the more we should hold up the banner of peace, development and cooperation.As Deng Xiaoping clearly pointed out in October 1989, countries should "focus on their own long-term strategic interests, and at the same time respect the interests of each other, regardless of historical grievances, differences in social systems and ideologies." , and all countries, big or small, strong or weak, respect each other and treat each other as equals."We will follow this direction, hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, and independently build socialism with Chinese characteristics in the process of being connected with economic globalization rather than separating it, so as to achieve socialist modernization and the Chinese Communist Party. The great rejuvenation of the nation means the "peaceful rise" of China.In this sense, China's "peaceful rise" is the same as China's "peaceful development".

To put it more completely, from the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee to the middle of this century when China basically achieved modernization, these 70 years are called "China's peaceful rise". We must persist in being a staunch force for maintaining world peace and promoting common development. As for the fact that we hold high the banner of peace, development, and cooperation, but at the same time must strengthen our own national defense, this is a matter of course!If "Taiwan independence" forces split the country or foreign forces intervene to support "Taiwan independence", we will never rule out the use of force. This is also a matter of course!In case of invasion by foreign enemies, we are justified in self-defense, which is even more justified!It should be said that all of these belong to the meaning of the topic "The Development Path of China's Peaceful Rise"!

Look again, for the same reason, when we clearly point out and insist that peace and development are the themes of the times, it does not mean that we should ignore the fact that the world is not peaceful and there are still various security threats.However, can the basic scientific assessment of the theme of the times be easily shaken because of local turmoil and emergencies of one kind or another in the world?Of course not!It still depends on the overall situation!