Use of Force

China published a 91-page white paper on national defense, the fifth of its kind since 1998, proclaiming that "China pursues a national defense policy which is purely defensive in nature". The white paper warned that "the struggle to oppose and contain the separatist forces for Taiwan independence and their activities remains a hard one". It also asserted that both the total amount and per-serviceman share of China's defense expenditure is low compared with those of other major powers. The document reiterates China's stand of never being the first to use nuclear weapons, promising not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon countries and regions, and advocating the comprehensive prohibition and complete elimination of nuclear weapons. It stresses that China upholds the principles of counterattack in self-defense and the limited development of nuclear weapons and says China's "ultimate aim is to deter other countries from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against China".