In Their Own Words: 中国制度面对面 China’s System Face to Face Theory Bureau of the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee China Aerospace Studies Institute Apr 2021 Printed in the United States of America by the China Aerospace Studies Institute To request additional copies, please direct inquiries to Director, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University, 55 Lemay Plaza, Montgomery, AL 36112 All photos licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, or under the Fair Use Doctrine under Section 107 of the Copyright Act for nonprofit educational and noncommercial use. 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China Aerospace Studies Institute Apr 2021 China Aerospace Studies Institute CASI's mission is to advance understanding of the capabilities, development, operating concepts, strategy, doctrine, personnel, organization, and limitations of China's aerospace forces, which include: the PLA Air Force (PLAAF); PLA Naval Aviation (PLAN Aviation); PLA Rocket Force (PLARF); PLA Army (PLAA) Aviation; the PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF); and the civilian and commercial infrastructure that supports the above. CASI supports the Secretary, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Space Operations, and other senior Air and Space leaders. CASI provides expert research and analysis supporting decision and policy makers in the Department of Defense and across the U.S. government. CASI can support the full range of units and organizations across the USAF, USSF, and the DoD. CASI accomplishes its mission through conducting the following activities: . 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CASI supports the U.S. Defense Department and the China research community writ-large by providing high quality, unclassified research on Chinese aerospace developments in the context of U.S. strategic imperatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Primarily focused on China’s Military Air, Space, and Missile Forces, CASI capitalizes on publicly available native language resources to gain insights as to how the Chinese speak to and among one another on these topics. China Aerospace Studies Institute Apr 2021 In Their Own Words The “In Their Own Words” series is dedicated to translations of Chinese documents in order to help non-Mandarin speaking audiences access and understand Chinese thinking. CASI would like to thank all of those involved in this effort, especially the CASI team at BluePath Labs. In the “In Their Own Words” series, CASI and its collaborators aim to provide Chinese texts that illustrate thoughtful, clearly articulated, authoritative foreign perspectives on approaches to warfare at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. The translation and publication does not constitute approval by any U.S. Government organization of the contents, inferences, findings, or conclusions contained therein. Publication is solely for the exchange of information and stimulation of ideas. Translators’ Notes This translation of the original text aims to accurately capture the technical meanings, in both English and Chinese. This will ensure that the reader will not inadvertently draw the wrong substantive understanding based on inaccurate translations. China Aerospace Studies Institute Apr 2021 China’s System Face to Face This book closely focuses on studying, propagating, and implementing the spirit of the 4th Plenary Session of the Party’s 19th Central Committee and provides an in-depth explanation in simplified terms of major issues regarding upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance, from an authoritative, correct viewpoint, in a refreshing, simple style of writing with a vivid, lively format. This book can be used as important auxiliary reading material by the broad masses of cadres, and by young scholars to study theory and to carry out education on formal policy. An Explanation of the Publication In order to deepen the study, propagation, and implementation of the spirit of the 4th Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and to assist people in better understanding various policy decisions and plans on upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance, we have conducted extensive research, and based on our findings have sorted out sixteen major issues which are of concern to cadres and the masses. We have organized the relevant Central departments, and experts, to write this piece of popular theory literature in the year 2020, “China’s System Face to Face”. This book takes as its guide Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, to closely connect with the realities of constructing the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and closely connect with the ideological reality of cadres and the masses, to provide in- depth explanation in simplified terms, while striving to speak from an authoritative and correct viewpoint, in familiar, easily understood language, in a refreshing, simple style of writing with a vivid, lively format. This book can be used as important auxiliary reading material for cadres and the masses and young scholars to study theory and to carry out education on the current situation policy. Theory Bureau of the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee July 2020 China Aerospace Studies Institute Apr 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. A Grand Undertaking of a Thousand Autumns to Forge a Great System /1 How did the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics come about? Searching above and searching below Blowing on sand to find gold /2 A profound heritage Get rid of the old and bring the new /8 Succession in an ongoing lineage Revitalization (of ideas) /12 The sea can absorb a hundred rivers Incorporating diverse concepts /16 2. Enjoying the Sight of a Thousand Waves of Rice & Beans Swaying in the Wind /20 Why is the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics good? What makes the Chinese system good? /20 The institutional code of the “Two Great Miracles” /29 Strengthen (self-)confidence in the Chinese system /34 3. A Mainstay Appears in Turbulent Seas /39 -Why are the Party’s Leadership Systems and Institutions Given Top Priority? Stars rally ‘round the moon A miraculous pillar of stability /40 Various affairs are is found everywhere The Central (Government) holds the key /44 Pervades everything Thoroughly following through /48 4. Everyone in Our Sacred Land Embodies the Sages Shun and Yao /54 How can the people become masters of the country through our system? Taking people’s democracy as our lifeblood /56 Many advantages of democracy exist throughout the whole process /60 A sound democratic political system /64 5. Relying on Important Tools to Govern and Stabilize the Nation /69 -How can institutions of legal governance with Chinese characteristics safeguard impartiality and justice? Rule