August 1, 2026 marks the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past century, the PLA has evolved from a revolutionary force into a strong national army, a pillar for safeguarding China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and development interests. This development not only reflects the reform of the military, but also demonstrates the shift in China’s security perspective from focusing on internal security to participating in global security governance, in line with the Chinese wisdom that has always emphasized: “China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development, no matter how far it develops,” which is an important stance and principle linking military building with peacekeeping. What is noteworthy is that China’s military development is not only explained by national defense. China has often stated in its foreign and national defense policies that “China will continue to inherit the ancient Silk Road, the path of friendship and cooperation, without the will to compete for control over other countries.” For China, strengthening military capabilities is not a separate goal, but a part of ensuring national security, safeguarding development, and contributing to international stability. In line with the ideology of President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China on strengthening the military, based on several key principles, including military modernization, development through science and technology, high-quality training, and building a capable army in line with the requirements of the modern era. China’s military development has a clear purpose, which is to protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as to contribute to maintaining international peace. In fact, China has been expanding its participation in UN peacekeeping missions, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance. In fact, as the largest permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, China has deployed a total of more than 50,000 peacekeepers to missions in more than 20 countries and regions. From participating in security and navigation in the Gulf of Aden to international humanitarian relief operations, the Chinese military is increasingly prominent at the forefront of efforts to maintain global peace and security.
In addition to modernizing its national defense, China has also expanded military and defense cooperation with friendly countries, including Cambodia, a close friend. Through experience exchange, human resource training, material assistance, defense infrastructure development, and joint exercises, these cooperations have contributed to enhancing the capabilities and modernization of Cambodia’s defense industry, in line with the objectives of strengthening national security and safeguarding regional peace in line with the building of a Cambodia-China community of shared future in all seasons in the new era.
2026 is also the 4th anniversary of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) launched by Xi Jinping in 2022, emphasizing respect for sovereignty, adherence to the UN Charter, respect for the legitimate security concerns of all countries, resolving disputes through dialogue, and building common security. No matter how the global context changes, China will continue to be a key player in maintaining global security and shaping the security architecture in the 21st century and beyond.
By: Dr. Chea Monirith | President of the Cambodia-China Development Research Association
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