Wei Fenghe

The international landscape keeps evolving in profound ways. We need stronger global response to address the common risks and challenges facing humanity.

Wei Fenghe (Chinese: 魏凤和) (born February 1954) is a general in the People's Liberation Army who served as the Minister of National Defence from 2018 to 2023. The first to have not come from the PLA Ground Forces and the first-ranked State Councilor in Li Keqiang Cabinet II from March 2018, and also the first-ranked ordinary Member of the Xi Jinping-chaired Central Military Commission. He previously served as the commander of the PLA Rocket Force, formerly known as the Second Artillery Corps.

Quotes

The pace of China's development is unstoppable, and its commitment to the path of peaceful development is unswerving. China's development is not a threat, but a great contribution to world peace and development.

• The pace of China's development is unstoppable, and its commitment to the path of peaceful development is unswerving. China's development is not a threat, but a great contribution to world peace and development.
  • Chinese defense minister elaborates China's Vision for Regional Order at 19th Shangri-La Dialogue (12 June 2022)

• No one and no country should impose its will on others, or bully others under the guise of multilateralism.
  • "China blasts US ‘bully’, says it will ‘fight to the end’ for Taiwan" in CNN (12 June 2022)

Speech at the 4th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial (2021) (Excerpts)

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We should take the safety and security of peacekeepers as a priority in applying new technologies and improve security protection and medical capacity of peacekeeping troops to ensure the safety and health of peacekeepers.

• As we speak, the world is experiencing the combined impact of major changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century. The international landscape keeps evolving in profound ways. We need stronger global response to address the common risks and challenges facing humanity. This requires us to build consensus on the UN platform to address challenges together and build a community with a shared future for mankind. Peacekeeping operations serve as an important instrument for the UN to maintain global peace and security.
• We should respect the central role of the host nations and take a comprehensive approach to eradicate the root cause of conflicts. We need to invest more in development and improve the host nations’ own capacity of development to realize sustainable peace and development.
• We should take the safety and security of peacekeepers as a priority in applying new technologies and improve security protection and medical capacity of peacekeeping troops to ensure the safety and health of peacekeepers.
• Over the past 30-odd years, the Chinese military has shed blood and sweat to honor its lofty mission and solemn commitment to world peace. China will always strive to maintain world peace, promote global growth, uphold international order, and provide public goods. The Chinese military will always be a force of justice for world peace and development. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation on peacekeeping with all parties to make new and greater contributions to world peace

Speech at 18th Asia Security Summit The ISS Shangri-La Dialogue (2 June 2019) (Excerpts)

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Those who are familiar with China’s modern history must know that the country was once poor and weak and went through enormous misery.

The more severe the pressure and difficulties are, the stronger and braver the Chinese people become. Adversity only brings our nation greater solidarity and strength.

• Humanity is at a crossroads. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the right path forward and the trend of the times. The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Destabilising, uncertain factors and challenges continue to arise.
• We believe that any such perspective should take into account the common security and interests of regional countries. No approaches to regional issues should resort to military blocs, nor should they undermine the interests of others.

• Firstly, which should we choose: peace and development or conflict and confrontation? Peace and development remain the call of our times and a trend of history. However, global and regional hotspots flare up one after another and the risk of conflict and war persists. We see regional wars and conflicts, the spread of terrorism, the chaos in the Middle East and the refugee crisis in Europe. What is the reason for them? Who is behind all these and what is the root cause? These are the questions to be reflected on. Some deliberately create division and hostility, provoke confrontation, meddle with regional affairs, interfere in the internal affairs of others and frequently resort to arms. Whose interests on earth do they serve and whose do they harm?

• Secondly, which should we choose: openness and inclusiveness or isolation and exclusiveness? See the world with an open and inclusive mind and there will be friends and partners everywhere. Yet see the world with a narrow and exclusive mind and there will only be enemies and adversaries. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, lately we see a growing backlash against globalisation and a surge of protectionism. A certain country champions unilateralism, puts its own interests before others and withdraws from international treaties and organisations. Are there not many countries suffering from the wilful infringement and sanctions?

• Thirdly, which should we choose: win–win cooperation or a zero-sum game? Win–win cooperation makes the pie bigger and brings more benefits to all. However, a zero-sum game makes no winner and harms the interests of both sides.

• Facing a complex and volatile international security situation, the Chinese government and armed forces stay committed to regional and world prosperity and stability. Those who are familiar with China’s modern history must know that the country was once poor and weak and went through enormous misery. The Chinese people know very well the value of peace and the cruelty and destructiveness of war. Over the years some have been recklessly hyping up, exaggerating and dramatising the China threat theory, partly due to the lack of understanding of China’s history, culture and policies, but more likely due to misunderstanding, prejudice or even a hidden agenda of their own.

• China sticks to the path of peaceful development. Such a commitment is underpinned by China’s socialist system, the independent foreign policy of peace and the cultural tradition that values peace and harmony. China shall follow the path of peaceful development, which is a solemn commitment to the people of China and the world.

• In the future, no matter how strong it becomes, China shall never threaten anyone, seek hegemony or establish spheres of influence. History has proven and will continue to prove that China will not follow the beaten path of big powers seeking hegemony when it grows strong. Hegemony does not conform to China’s values and national interests.

• The more severe the pressure and difficulties are, the stronger and braver the Chinese people become. Adversity only brings our nation greater solidarity and strength.

• The achievements we have made in the past 70 years since the founding of the PRC is not a windfall or a handout from others. Neither was it made by engaging in military expansion or colonial exploitation. Instead, it has been achieved through the hard work, wisdom and bravery of the Chinese people, as well as through our win–win cooperation with the world since Reform and Opening Up.