Beijing, April 16 (IANS): China Tuesday issued a white paper on national defence, elaborating its new security concept and peacetime employment of armed forces.

The document, the eighth of its kind issued by the Chinese government since 1998, says China advocates a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination, and pursues comprehensive security, common security and cooperative security, reported Xinhua.

"China will never seek hegemony or behave in a hegemonic manner, nor will it engage in military expansion," the white paper says.

The paper elaborates on the country's diversified employment of the armed forces in the peaceful times, saying that it responds to China's core security needs and aims to maintain peace, contain crises and win wars.

Chinese armed forces are employed to safeguard border, coastal and territorial air security, strengthen combat-readiness and combat-oriented exercises and drills, it says.

They would readily respond to and resolutely deter any provocative action which undermines China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, it adds.