China Tuesday released its white paper The Diversified Employment of China's Armed Forces, revealing the 18 combined corps of the People's Liberation Army and the number of PLA mobile operational units, navy and air force servicemen.

A large part of this year's white paper was devoted to maritime issues. "China is a major maritime as well as land country. The seas and oceans provide immense space and abundant resources for the country's sustainable development," it said. It also stressed the importance of maintaining overseas interests, including "overseas energy and resources, strategic sea lines of communication, and Chinese nationals and legal persons overseas."

This is the latest step China has taken toward military transparency. But many Chinese defense analysts  believe that the West will not feel satisfied as it will demand details such as information on China's military hardware. The white paper named Japan as a trouble-maker over the issue of the Diaoyu Islands and accused some countries of strengthening Asia-Pacific military alliances and presences in the region. Such direct statements are to be encouraged.

China's open discussion on maritime issues will provoke some controversy. But it coincides with China's sphere of opinion. It is the natural outcome of China's reform and opening-up rather than the result of pressure from other countries.

The white paper also declared China's overseas interests. The legality of such a declaration echoes the real existence of those overseas interests. What it shows is not China's expansionist ambitions but practical strategic adjustments.

Overseas opinion should never be China's main consideration. We have realized its limitations. For the sake of our national security, we can be both bold and conservative. We haven't fully used up our rights as a world power.

China should help the rest of the world cultivate its sense of adapting to China. Any changes of China's concrete policies will have a huge impact. The outside world will be more willing to make adjustment. We need to make the adjustment a smooth process. China's military is not in the same position of strength when compared with many of its other fields. Facing China's potential national security challenges, its military capability still lacks deterrence. Some of China's strategic determinations need courage more than actual military strength.