Major General Luo Yuan Photo: IC

Although he does not deny the media's portrayal of him as a "hawkish figure" within the Chinese military, Major General Luo Yuan still prefers to describe himself as a "rational hawk" instead of an "impetuous war hawk." To more clearly explain the differences between the two, Luo has even published a new book that outlines his "hawkish" stance on many State and foreign issues, while providing the historic and global context behind his thinking.

Released early this month, Hawkish Guts, Dovish Soul premiered to critical acclaim by media and some military academics. A press conference for the book on August 2 was exceptionally grand for a book conference. Over 150 people from different circles, including famous military academics and families of famous military generals arrived to support Luo and his new book.

An aggressive stance

An active writer that published a number of articles on different issues even when he was just a young soldier, Luo's natural inclination to stand out and air his opinions helped make him a celebrity on TV. Influential media outlets including CCTV (China Central Television) in Beijing and Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV frequently invite him to act as a major guest commentator on their military programs.

Known for advocating a strong military, Luo holds special appeal among Chinese overseas.

"My friends in countries like Iceland often tell me that they love it when Luo shows up on those programs, since the things he says truly represent the Chinese spirit," the daughter of a late Air Force general surnamed Liu told the Global Times.

However, it seems that the tide began to turn against Luo starting last year. As controversies about some of his remarks began to increase online, Luo's appearances on TV programs decreased sharply, leaving some to guess that he had been banned from the programs. Replacing Luo's relatively hard-line remarks were relative mild commentators whose analyses have been seen by many as lacking any real content.

"His stance on some issues may represent some voices from the military side," said Liu. Pointing out that it's impossible for the whole country to have just one voice on significant State issues or foreign affairs, Liu told the Global Times Luo had been banned once by a certain institution from participating in a TV program because he once revealed an ongoing national defense project on a show and this action was seen as leaking State secrets.

"But when I logged onto Baidu and searched for information related to that project, I saw there was already a lot about it on the Internet," said Liu.

A clear and logical defense

However, with the release of his new book and the fact that many of his previous ideas have been adopted as official policy, Luo is earning back support.

"I'm a rational hawk, not a reckless hawk. I've never made extreme remarks," said Luo. He mentioned that he finds it interesting that many American scholars who have known him, including former US ambassador to China J. Stapleton Roy and Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Nye all told him that they see him as a rational scholar rather than a hawk.

Clarifying his stances and the reasoning behind them in the book, Luo includes nearly all the major hot issues facing China in recent years such as the country's anti-corruption campaign within the military and the dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands.

Luo's background as a military man is revealed in the orderly and clean logic he uses in analyzing these significant issues. For each issue, he lists the whats, whys and hows of the entire situation and uses clear and firm language in his conclusions.

Once a member of the CPPCC National Committee from 2008 to 2013, Luo pushed forward 25 proposals during that time, which led the media to call him "the Army's most efficient member."

To date, 10 of those proposals - such as establishing the Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea, an idea that caused a lot of controversy when it was first proposed - have been adopted by decision-makers and made a reality.

In 2008 Luo proposed having veterans take part in the country's military parades. The following year, during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a platoon of veterans marched in the parade. Veterans are also expected to march in the upcoming military parade on September 3.

"Those veterans are not just from the CPC (Communist Party of China), but the Kuomintang army that fought during the Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. They shouldn't be forgotten and now many of them are leaving us. We should give them the treatment and respect they are due," Luo told the Global Times. 

A strong military is not for war

While there are many who are doubtful if next week's military parade is appropriate, Luo stressed that the parade is only meant to show that the people of China are against fascism, which is why it is being held on the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

"This is not just a victory for one country, but the entire human race. The international world will understand China's peaceful intentions one day," he said.

Given the country's emphasis on a "peaceful rise" at many foreign events, Luo's repeated remarks on strengthening the country's military often causes confusion for many who watch his interviews or read his work.

"To be a powerful country, one must have a strong military. Short of that, the country is just economically rich, not powerful," Luo said, clarifying his stance.

"Strengthening the military doesn't mean we are hostile, instead it means we are taking steps to contain and avoid war."