Today, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has reached a stalemate. The conflict has caused extensive damage to both warring parties and has made a profound impact on Europe, if not the entire world. At a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet been contained, when the global economy is gradually going into a recession, and when inflation increasingly tightens its grip on the world, with food and energy crises unfolding here and there, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has compounded the manifold problems facing our world, casting a deep gloom over the future. This is something that no peace-loving countries or people want to see.

The course of events, however, pays no heed to people’s wishes, and our world has never been a stranger to the way of power and might, to tensions and struggles. The harsh reality of the Russia-Ukraine conflict also serves to remind us that the defense of our national security and the well-being of the people has to rely on the strength of our own country and on the will of the whole populace. As an integral part of national strength, the national defense science and technology industry shoulders an extremely arduous duty: in peacetime, it works to strengthen the army and serve the country, keep up with the times, and fully prepare for future wars; in times of war, it keeps a close eye on the battlefield and makes the utmost effort to help secure the ultimate victory by speeding up operations and ensuring supplies to the front line.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has shocked the world and has also provoked a lot of thoughts among Chinese people from different circles. At present, the conflict has not yet ended, and the United States is already preparing for the next war. The White House submitted a budget request for fiscal year 2023 to Congress and asked for an increase of the defense budget to $813.3 billion. U.S. President Joseph Biden described it as “one of the largest investments in our national security in history.” A senior U.S. defense official commented that “China remains our most challenging strategic threat. That’s what the budget says.” Who is the one sharpening their sword? Who is the one glaring like a tiger eyeing its prey? It is as clear as day judging from the above! Furthermore, China has inviolable interests in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Himalayas, the Strait of Malacca, and outer space, but all those regions are fraught with risks as packs of wolves—so to speak—come to encircle us.

As General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized, “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is no easy task and will not be achieved simply by beating drums and gongs. We must have the courage to carry out a great struggle with many new contemporary characteristics and be prepared to make even greater and more arduous efforts.” In view of this, we must pay close attention to and think deeply about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Keeping in mind the saying that “forethought leads to success, and lack of forethought leads to failure” and guided by the overall national security concept, we must make relevant advance preparations against major emergencies with great determination and effort. In the belief that “even those in lowly positions must never forget to concern themselves with the fate of the country,” after some deep thought, I would propose the following suggestions, which are highly relevant to China’s military security and military industry.

It is necessary for China to moderately increase military spending as a percentage of GDP

With the latest developments in the United States and NATO after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict (apart from the United States, many NATO countries have increased their defense spending to 2 percent of their GDP), and considering China’s overall security environment, it is necessary for China to respond to the state of affairs by moderately increasing annual military spending—to be enacted through the country’s legislature following legal procedures—so that its share of GDP reaches a level commensurate with the task of protecting China’s overall security in a significantly changed situation. According to studies, U.S. military expenditure, which has remained at about 4 percent of GDP for years, ranks first in the world and surpasses the defense spending of the next nine countries combined. China’s military expenditure, in contrast, has hovered between 1.01 percent and 1.44 percent of GDP for three decades. In the context of the current international situation, it is necessary to moderately increase our annual defense spending as a share of GDP. This is not done to engage in an international arms race, but to defend our national security.

Step up the development and improvement of land combat equipment suited to different ways of fighting

While the People’s Liberation Army focuses on training, war preparations, and various battle drills, the military industry should step up the development of equipment suitable for sea crossing and landing, island seizure, street-to-street fighting, cyber and information warfare, and drone swarm offense and defense. In light of Russia’s serious losses of tanks, armored vehicles, and warships in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we should prioritize devising a solution to attack tactics against our aircraft, tanks, and armored vehicles that use asymmetric weapons such as Western-made man-portable missiles—the Stinger, Javelin, and Starstreak, for example—and swarms of various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) like the Switchblade. In addition, we must promptly make corresponding improvements to the protection of relevant equipment to minimize combat losses of personnel and equipment.

Improve advanced information-based systems suitable for command and control in joint operations

It is necessary to closely cooperate with the military to develop and upgrade efficient battlefield situational awareness systems with Chinese characteristics and effectively deploy them in future multi-service joint operations, so that military units can remain well protected while conducting precision strikes on enemies. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moskva, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, was sunk by Ukrainian missiles, and more than 10 senior Russian commanders have been killed on the battlefield. It is rumored that the United States and United Kingdom used battlefield situational awareness systems to help Ukraine precisely locate those targets and carry out precision strikes.

Step up the development and production of support equipment suitable for special combat scenarios

In order to prepare for a high-intensity mode of warfare in the future that takes place on a battlefield of great expanse and depth, the military industry should also step up the development, production, and improvement of logistics support systems for various branches of the military. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has exposed deficiencies in the logistics and supply of the Russian army that deserve our close attention. In particular, we must consider how to effectively meet the demand for special equipment used for tasks such as supply to the front line, force projection, casualty rescue, and replenishment at sea in complex and perilous combat missions, including sea crossings, island seizures, airdrops, infiltration and penetration, plateau and alpine operations, and ocean escorts.

Increase the reserves of war materials and munitions required for conventional warfare

Modern warfare consumes a staggering amount of materiel—especially in a protracted war of attrition, which is essentially about outlasting the opponent: the side that runs out of ammunition and provisions is bound to be the loser. It is therefore absolutely necessary to make advance preparations in this regard.

Weave a dense counterespionage network

The whole society should step up education on patriotism and the overall national security concept. We must weave a strong and dense counterespionage network that covers areas such as politics, economics, military, culture, public health, and the internet.

In summary, the Russia-Ukraine conflict serves as an important source of lessons for China, and we should pay the utmost attention to the experience of both sides in the war—just as the saying goes, “A stone from another mountain can be used to sharpen our own blades.” Stepping up preparations and getting ready for war is a natural task of the millions of workers in China’s national defense science and technology industry, whose first duty is to strengthen the army.

At the latest NATO Summit recently held in Madrid, Spain, the organization adopted a new version of its “Strategic Concept.” Russia was considered a “partner” 12 years ago, but today it has been labeled the “most significant threat.” Most worryingly, NATO repeatedly points its finger at China in this document. NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has stated publicly: “China’s stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security.”

The NATO summit has sent three dangerous signals to the world. First, NATO will expand its rapid response force from 40,000 to 300,000 troops, a more than sevenfold jump. Second, its strategic orientation openly targets China. Third, four Asia-Pacific countries—Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—participated in a NATO summit for the first time, which represents a dangerous step towards a southward expansion of NATO to Eurasia. All these signs indicate that China’s overall national security is facing an increasingly complicated and dangerous situation. It is clear that little has changed between the “U.S. top secret” of the Clinton era and the latest version of NATO’s Strategic Concept. In response, the Chinese people must maintain the highest vigilance and make the fullest preparations.

In today’s crisis-ridden world, workers in China’s military industry—boasting a glorious 91-year tradition of self-reliance, hard work, a can-do attitude, and a pioneering spirit—will stand shoulder to shoulder with the mighty Chinese People’s Liberation Army and jointly build and defend a great wall of steel that safeguards national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, the happiness of the people, and national rejuvenation.

Workers in China’s military industry sharpen the swords that defend the country and forge the shields that protect the people! They are always at the ready!