Many overseas scholars and experts believe that China’s decision to cut its army troops sends a message about China's pledge to promote world peace and work side-by-side with other countries to pursue common development and prosperity.
“The implicit message of President Xi Jinping's speech is that a strong China intends to be a peaceful power and can afford to do so without jeopardizing the security of the Chinese people,” said Ted Galen Carpenter, a senior fellow for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute in the United States, Xinhua reported.
Carpenter added that the president’s speech was held during the military parade that demonstrated a modern, extremely capable defense force. Despite its growing strength, China will never seek hegemony.
“The cut in troops clearly shows China's wish to uphold peace and sends a key message to the world that China's military strength will pose no threat to the rest of the world,” Lawmaker Sok Eysan, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People's Party, told Xinhua.
Similarly, Professor Francis Chigunta, a senior lecturer in the Department of Development Studies at the University Of Zambia (UNZA), said China's decision to cut the number of its troops was a welcome decision and advised other world powers to do the same.
The professor said the move also shows that China has modernized its military and was not concerned with having many troops.
