Editor's note: The following is the full text of a white paper on China's armed forces published by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Tuesday and released by Xinhua News Agency.

Preface

In today's world, peace and development are facing new opportunities and challenges. It is a historic mission entrusted by the era to people of all nations to firmly grasp the opportunities, jointly meet the challenges, cooperatively maintain security and collectively achieve development.