Chinese president swears off force to achieve nation's goals

Chinese president Xi Jinping promised that China has no desire to use force to achieve its goals. Emphasizing that China has come to peaceful resolutions in 12 out of 14 cases where borders were in dispute he explained that war is an undesirable means of achieving an end during his visit to Australia.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Xi Jinping, President of China, reassured the world that he did not view war as an acceptable means to achieve political aims. "China remains unshakeable in its resolve to pursue peaceful development" the president said to the Australian parliament during his visit to that country. "Neither turbulence nor war serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people," he added.

Referring to a worldwide trend towards peace, Jinping addressed the Australian parialment after the G20 summit in that country. "China has settled land boundary issues with 12 out of its 14 neighbors through friendly consultation," he cited.

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However, Jinping also warned that China reserved the right to "be on high alert against the factors that may deprive us of peace."

Jinping's comments come amid several territorial disputes with Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam over fishing rights in waters largely regarded as international. The control of small islands in the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea are points of contention between China and its neighbors.

China has recently made moves interpreted as aggressive by its neighbors. Those moves include the deployment of an aircraft carrier, the upgrade of the submarine fleet and nuclear arsenal and sorties by bombers and fighter planes close to the aircraft and territories of other nations, especially Japan.

Chinese warships have also been deployed in the vicinity of Philippine fishing boats.

Despite the saber rattling, Jinping is probably correct that war would not serve China. The Chinese economy has grown dramatically in recent years thanks to lucrative deals with the West, including the United States. Trade is bringing more Chinese people into the middle class and improving the quality of life for people in that nation. Belligerent activity which sparks conflict is not in China's financial self-interest.

China has also embarked upon an ambitious space program ostensibly with plans to reach the Moon with a manned mission.

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