The first meeting of China's newly established National Security Commission (on April 15) officially signals the start of its operations and the foundation of a national security system with Chinese characteristics.

Chairing the NSC meeting, President Xi Jinping elaborated on his vision for an overall national security - internal as well as external security. He said China faces, internally and externally, the most complicated situation in its history. Given the development trends in China and the rest of the world, the country will get and face "unparalleled" opportunities and challenges during the course of its development.

Therefore, Xi said, the country needs to urgently form a national security outlook, broader in range and scope, at a time when the world is undergoing multi-polarization, globalization is deepening and the flow of information is overwhelming.

Every country has its own national security issues. And most countries, especially the big powers, have concluded that the times demand the establishment of a national security committee. Considering its internal and external environment, development stage and its strategic development goals, China can be characterized as "a socialist country rising to (become) a major world player", which is quite different from other major powers today.

Consequently, since it faces unprecedented challenges and contradictions in the course of its development, China cannot possibly copy the past or present security patterns of other countries. So, it has to find an independent path to a national security plan, a path with Chinese characteristics.

China will establish a national security system to safeguard its political and social system, its territory, military, economy, culture, and scientific and technological development, and its environment, natural resources and nuclear programs.

On the domestic front, the safety of the people is paramount and the country will rally the support of the people to safeguard national territory and sovereignty. Externally, China will strive to build a common security network because its national security cannot be separated from the security of international community.

The establishment of the National Security Commission meets the urgent need to carry forward the modernization of national governance system and to ensure the country's political stability. The first meeting of the NSC has taken a firm step toward building a perfect national security system with Chinese characteristics.

(China Daily 04/18/2014 page9)