Senior military officers and government defense officials of foreign countries enrolled at China's College of Defense Studies (CDS) in Beijing learn about warfare with Chinese characteristics that says military force is only to be used to maintain peace and order.

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CDS opened in 1969 to train foreign senior officials. It said over 500 senior officers from over 100 countries study here every year, and around 5,000 have graduated so far. CDS works for exchanges and cooperation in international military education, and studies theories about defense and security.

CDS is under the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The National Defense University (NDU) is the highest institution of foreign military personnel training in China.

At the CDS, military officer students are taught about ancient Chinese military thought; preventing conflicts and wars and achieving peace through peaceful means.

A key tenet of the training is that military forces are to be used only for maintaining peace and order.

Towards this end, CDS offers courses on non-traditional security areas such as humanitarian assistance and international peacekeeping operations.

There are also courses about China's political system; defense policy; diplomatic strategy; environmental and climate issues; ethnic groups; religions and human rights.

CDS said a survey of its students showed more than 90 percent of the foreign military students want to learn more about China.

CDS not only opens a window for foreign military students to gain knowledge about China, but also builds a platform for communication and improvement, so as to help them enhance their "core competitiveness."

"We provide a platform for officers from all over the world to communicate with each other, diagnose problems for international security and jointly explore ways of maintaining world peace," said CDS Dean Xu Hui.

"It is an important manifestation of China taking responsibilities as a major country, especially in military area."

He said the CDS' defense and strategic studies course and the international studies course have become internationally renowned brands with growing external attractions.

Tagschina, College of Defense Studies, CDS, National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, senior foreign military officers, CDS Dean Xu Hui