It was reported that a brigade of the second artillery unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army successfully carried out a nuclear counterattack exercise under the simulated condition of real war in highlands in the western part of China, said the newspaper. The report soon drew the attention of local and foreign media.

The newspaper quoted an independent military and political analyst in Beijing as saying:

The report came when a complicated and serious change had taken place in the surrounding security situation and new arms had steadily been developed and demonstrated in China.

It is necessary to analyze the exercise from a scientific and practical point of view.

Firstly, China still adheres to its positive defense strategy although it enhances its military capabilities.

Recently, the Chinese military opened some strategic arms to the public one after another to draw the attention of the international community. After that, it carried out the exercise in an apparent bid to show that there is no change in its policy of not using nuclear arms first.

Secondly, it maintains the tradition of hard exercises along with the improvement of military science and technology.

Thirdly, it responds to the demand for increasing the transparency in bolstering up the military strength.

The international community, particularly the Western powers, are skeptical and critical of China's military development.

Under such circumstances, China has taken some measures to demonstrate its good intention to learn honestly from others and implement its international obligation in response to the demand for increasing the military strength and the military transparency.