guójiā ānquán: 国家安全 - National Security

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 国家安全 (guójiā ānquán), the Chinese term for “national security.” This page explains why its definition in China is far broader than in the West, encompassing not just military defense but also political, economic, cultural, and cybersecurity. Learn how this crucial concept reflects China's state-centric focus on stability and shapes modern policy, law, and society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guójiā ānquán
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: Advanced (Post-HSK 6 / HSK 7-9)
• Concise Definition: The security, stability, and integrity of the nation-state.
• In a Nutshell: 国家安全 (guójiā ānquán) is the Chinese equivalent of “national security,” but it's a super-sized version. While Western countries think of national security mainly in terms of armies, spies, and borders, the Chinese concept is all-encompassing. It includes protecting the country's political system, ensuring the economy runs smoothly, controlling information online, and even preserving cultural identity. It is a very serious, formal term that represents the government's top priority: maintaining comprehensive stability.

• 国 (guó): Country, nation, state. This character originally depicted a weapon (戈) protecting a population within a boundary (囗), signifying a defended territory.
• 家 (jiā): Home, family. A pictogram of a pig (豕) under a roof (宀), symbolizing a domestic household.
• 安 (ān): Safe, secure, peaceful. This character shows a woman (女) under a roof (宀), a classic image of peace and tranquility at home.
• 全 (quán): All, entire, whole, complete.

The characters combine beautifully: 国家 (guójiā) means “country” or “nation,” literally “nation-family,” which reflects a deep-seated cultural view of the country as one large, collective family. 安全 (ānquán) means “safety” or “security,” literally “peace for all” or “complete safety.” Therefore, 国家安全 (guójiā ānquán) means the total, all-encompassing security of the nation-family.

The concept of 国家安全 is central to understanding the modern Chinese state and its priorities. Its meaning is heavily influenced by Chinese history and the official political ideology. The key is to understand that it is a holistic concept (总体国家安全观 - zǒngtǐ guójiā ānquán guān). Comparison with Western “National Security”: In the West, “national security” typically focuses on external threats: military invasion, terrorism, and foreign espionage. It's about protecting the physical territory and the political system from outside forces. In China, 国家安全 is much broader and more internally focused. It includes the Western elements but adds several others, viewing any potential source of instability as a threat to national security. The main components include:

• Political Security (政治安全): This is considered the absolute core. It means protecting the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the socialist political system. Any challenge to the Party's authority is seen as a primary national security threat.
• Economic Security (经济安全): Ensuring the stability of the economy, preventing financial crises, and securing key supply chains.
• Cultural Security (文化安全): Resisting “harmful” foreign ideas, values, and cultural products that could undermine China's socialist values and cultural identity.
• Cybersecurity (网络安全): Controlling the internet and the flow of information to prevent the spread of dissent and “harmful information.”
• Social Security (社会安全): Maintaining social order, preventing large-scale protests, and managing social conflicts.

This reflects the paramount value placed on 稳定 (wěndìng) - stability. From the government's perspective, without total security in all these areas, the nation cannot develop, and the well-being of the people cannot be guaranteed. This puts the collective security of the state above individual liberties, a stark contrast to many Western political traditions.

You will almost exclusively encounter 国家安全 in formal and official contexts. It is not a term for casual conversation.

• Government & Media: It is a cornerstone of official government documents, presidential speeches, and news reports on state television (like CCTV). The term is used with utmost seriousness to justify laws, policies, and actions.
• Legal System: The “National Security Law” (国家安全法) is a key piece of legislation that grants the state broad powers to counter perceived threats in all the areas mentioned above. This is famously applied in places like Hong Kong.
• Education: “National Security Education Day” (全民国家安全教育日) is held annually on April 15th to promote the official concept of national security among the public, including in schools.

The connotation is always formal, serious, and authoritative. When you hear this term, it signals that the matter is of the highest importance to the state.

• Example 1:
  • 维护国家安全是每个公民的责任。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù guójiā ānquán shì měi gè gōngmín de zérèn.
  • English: Maintaining national security is every citizen's responsibility.
  • Analysis: This sentence is a common official slogan, emphasizing the collective, all-of-society approach to national security in China.
• Example 2:
  • 这部新的法律旨在加强国家安全。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù xīn de fǎlǜ zhǐ zài jiāqiáng guójiā ānquán.
  • English: This new law aims to strengthen national security.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you would read in a news article about new legislation. “加强” (jiāqiáng - to strengthen) is often paired with 国家安全.
• Example 3:
  • 国家安全是国家发展的基石。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā ānquán shì guójiā fāzhǎn de jīshí.
  • English: National security is the cornerstone of national development.
  • Analysis: This sentence links security directly to economic and social progress, a key tenet of the government's philosophy. “基石” (jīshí - cornerstone/foundation) highlights its fundamental importance.
• Example 4:
  • 网络安全是国家安全的重要组成部分。
  • Pinyin: Wǎngluò ānquán shì guójiā ānquán de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfen.
  • English: Cybersecurity is an important component of national security.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the broad, modern definition of the term, explicitly including the digital realm.
• Example 5:
  • 他们因涉嫌危害国家安全而被调查。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen yīn shèxián wēihài guójiā ānquán ér bèi diàochá.
  • English: They are being investigated on suspicion of endangering national security.
  • Analysis: This shows the serious legal implications of the term. “危害” (wēihài - to endanger/harm) is the standard verb used for actions against national security.
• Example 6:
  • 政府发布了一份关于国家安全形势的白皮书。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ fābùle yī fèn guānyú guójiā ānquán xíngshì de báipíshū.
  • English: The government released a white paper on the national security situation.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its usage in formal government publications. “白皮书” (báipíshū - white paper) is a type of official report.
• Example 7:
  • 政治安全在国家安全体系中居于首要位置。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngzhì ānquán zài guójiā ānquán tǐxì zhōng jūyú shǒuyào wèizhì.
  • English: Political security holds the primary position in the national security system.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly states the official priority within the holistic security concept, which is crucial for learners to understand.
• Example 8:
  • 学校将开展国家安全教育周活动。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào jiāng kāizhǎn guójiā ānquán jiàoyù zhōu huódòng.
  • English: The school will launch a national security education week activity.
  • Analysis: Shows how the concept is promoted and taught from a young age.
• Example 9:
  • 确保粮食安全对国家安全至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Quèbǎo liángshí ānquán duì guójiā ānquán zhì guān zhòngyào.
  • English: Ensuring food security is vital to national security.
  • Analysis: Another example of the broad scope of 国家安全, extending to resources like food supply. “至关重要” (zhì guān zhòngyào) is a formal way to say “extremely important.”
• Example 10:
  • 我们必须坚持总体国家安全观。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū jiānchí zǒngtǐ guójiā ānquán guān.
  • English: We must adhere to the holistic view of national security.
  • Analysis: This uses the full, official name of the guiding ideology. “坚持” (jiānchí - to adhere to, to insist on) is a strong, resolute verb common in political language.

• The “False Friend” Trap: The biggest mistake is assuming 国家安全 (guójiā ānquán) is a direct 1-to-1 translation of the Western concept of “national security.” Remember, the Chinese term inherently includes protecting the current political system and ruling party. An American might discuss a policy's impact on national security without ever considering its effect on the Democratic or Republican parties. In China, protecting the CPC's leadership *is* political security, which is the core of national security.
• Incorrect Context - Using it for Local Crime: Do not use 国家安全 to talk about everyday crime or personal safety. It operates at the state level.
  • Incorrect: 我的车被偷了，这真是个国家安全问题！(Wǒ de chē bèi tōule, zhè zhēnshi ge guójiā ānquán wèntí!) - My car was stolen, this is really a national security problem!
  • Why it's wrong: Car theft is a matter of local law and order, not a threat to the stability of the nation-state.
  • Corrected: You should use a term like 治安 (zhì'ān - public order/law and order) or 公共安全 (gōnggòng ānquán - public safety). For example: “这里的治安不太好。” (Zhèlǐ de zhì'ān bù tài hǎo.) - “The public order here isn't very good.”

• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stability. The ultimate goal of pursuing 国家安全.
• 公安 (gōng'ān) - Public Security. Refers to the police force responsible for domestic law and order, a different domain from state security.
• 国安 (guó'ān) - A common abbreviation for 国家安全. It can refer to the concept in general or specifically to the Ministry of State Security (MSS), China's main civilian intelligence agency.
• 国家安全法 (guójiā ānquán fǎ) - The National Security Law. The key legislation that defines and enforces the concept.
• 公共安全 (gōnggòng ānquán) - Public Safety. A broader term than policing, covering traffic safety, fire prevention, emergency response, etc. It's about protecting citizens from daily dangers.
• 总体国家安全观 (zǒngtǐ guójiā ānquán guān) - The Holistic View of National Security. The official name for the all-encompassing security ideology.
• 维护 (wéihù) - To safeguard, maintain, or defend. This verb is very commonly paired with 国家安全.
• 主权 (zhǔquán) - Sovereignty. A core interest protected under the umbrella of 国家安全.
• 治安 (zhì'ān) - Law and order; public order. The term to use for local crime and safety issues.