The Epochal Implications of Upholding the Organic Unity of Political Security, People’s Security, and the Supremacy of National Interests

As an original thought continuously enriched and developed in the New Era, “upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests” has been mentioned multiple times in the national security discourse system, constituting an important element of the core tenets of the holistic approach to national security. Among these, political security is the foundation of national security, people’s security is the purpose of national security, and the supremacy of national interests is the guiding principle of national security. The three each have their own unique connotations and positions, yet they are also complementary, mutually penetrating, and an indivisible unified whole. On the new journey of the New Era, only by adhering to the guidance of the holistic approach to national security, and deeply understanding and grasping the connotations of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests and their interrelationships, can we coordinate the advancement of the modernization of the national security system and capacity, and ensure national security and social stability.

作为新时代不断丰富发展的原创性思想，“坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一”在国家安全话语体系中被数次提及，构成了总体国家安全观核心要义的重要内容。其中，政治安全是国家安全的根本，人民安全是国家安全的宗旨，国家利益至上是国家安全的准则。三者既各有独特的内涵与定位，又是相辅相成、相互贯通、不可分割的统一整体。在新时代新征程上，只有坚持以总体国家安全观为指引，深刻认识和把握政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上的内涵及其相互关系，才能统筹推进国家安全体系和能力现代化，确保国家安全和社会稳定。

I. Core and Guarantee: The Foundational Status of Political Security

一、核心与保证：政治安全的根本地位

Within the strategic thought system of the holistic approach to national security, political security is the foundation of national security. On April 15, 2014, Xi Jinping creatively proposed the holistic approach to national security at the first meeting of the Central National Security Commission [1]1 The “Ten Upholds” (十个坚持) refers to ten principles for national security work proposed by Xi Jinping at the 26th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee in 2020, including upholding the absolute leadership of the Party over national security work and upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests., in which the “five elements” [2]2 The 19th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2017. as the essence and core included “taking political security as the foundation.” Subsequently, during the continuous enrichment and development of the holistic approach to national security, this formulation has been consistently used. In 2020, Xi Jinping presided over the 26th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee [3]3 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee was held in 2021. and proposed the “ten upholds” [4]4 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2022. for implementing the holistic approach to national security, emphasizing “taking political security as the foundation.” The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC [5]5 The “Four Consciousnesses” refers to the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. dedicated a special chapter to strategic deployments on national security, which also emphasized adhering to “taking political security as the foundation” and “firmly safeguarding the security of state power, the security of the system, and the security of ideology.” The so-called “foundation” means basis or essence, often used as a metaphor for the source or root of something. Therefore, the importance of political security to national security is self-evident,

在总体国家安全观战略思想体系中，政治安全是国家安全的根本。2014年4月15日，习近平在中央国安委第一次会议上创造性提出总体国家安全观，其中作为精髓要义的“五大要素”即包括“以政治安全为根本”。此后在总体国家安全观不断丰富发展过程中，这一表述一直得以沿用，2020年习近平主持十九届中央政治局第二十六次集体学习提出贯彻总体国家安全观的“十个坚持”，强调“以政治安全为根本”；党的二十大报告以专章对国家安全作出战略部署，其中也强调要坚持“以政治安全为根本”，“坚定维护国家政权安全、制度安全、意识形态安全”。所谓“根本”，即基础或本质之意，常用于比喻某一事物的本源、根基，因此政治安全之于国家安全的重要性不言而喻，正如习近平指出：“要把维护国家政治安全特别是政权安全、制度安全放在第一位”，“坚持把政治安全放在首要位置，维护政权安全和制度安全”。通过“第一位”“首要位置”之重要表述不难看出，在整个国家安全体系中政治安全居于核心地位和最高层次，在这之中政权安全和制度安全则是核心中的核心。政治安全无疑构成新时代国家安全的“生命线”，对其他领域国家安全具有决定性影响，直接关系着国家长治久安和民族兴衰存亡。

Regarding the relationship between political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests, the first point is the change in the ordering of political security among the three. In 2018, Xi Jinping presided over the first meeting of the 19th Central Committee for National Security and emphasized “upholding the organic unity of people’s security, political security, and the supremacy of national interests”; in 2019, the same formulation appeared in the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of China’s System and Capacity for Governance,” reviewed and adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC. At that time, “political security” was listed after “people’s security” in the ordering. It was not until the 26th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee in 2020, which proposed the “Ten Upholds,” that the expression for the three became “upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests.” Thereafter, this formulation was adopted, placing “political security” before “people’s security.” For example, in January 2021, Xi Jinping pointed out at the opening ceremony of a study session for principal leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee that “we must uphold the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests”; in November of the same year, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee held a meeting to review the “National Security Strategy (2021–2025),” which stated “achieving the unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests,” and so forth. Political security concerns the stability of the nation’s sovereignty, political power, political system, political order, ideology, and other aspects. Although the forward shift in its ordering cannot be simplistically understood as meaning that “political security” is necessarily more important than the other two, it at least indicates that political security is indeed the foundational condition for the nation’s survival and development, and also the most fundamental need of the nation. Therefore, it should occupy a leading position in national security.

在政治安全同人民安全、国家利益至上的关系上，首先是政治安全在三者中排序的变化。2018年，习近平主持召开十九届中央国安委第一次会议强调“坚持人民安全、政治安全、国家利益至上的有机统一”；2019年，在党的十九届四中全会审议通过《中共中央关于坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度 推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化若干重大问题的决定》中也是同样的提法。此时“政治安全”在排序上是列在“人民安全”之后的。直到2020年十九届中央政治局第二十六次集体学习提出“十个坚持”，对三者的表述为“坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一”，此后便沿用了这种表述，把“政治安全”放到“人民安全”之前。例如，2021年1月，习近平在省部级主要领导干部学习贯彻党的十九届五中全会精神专题研讨班开班式上指出“要坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一”；同年11月，中央政治局召开会议审议《国家安全战略（2021—2025 年）》指出“实现政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上相统一”等皆如此。政治安全涉及到国家主权、政权、政治制度、政治秩序、意识形态等方面的稳固，其排序的前移虽然不能简单理解为“政治安全”必然比后两者更加重要，但至少可以说明政治安全确系国家赖以生存与发展之基础条件，也是国家最为根本的需求，因此在国家安全中应居于统领地位。

Secondly, regarding the expression of the relationship between political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests, there are two formulations in the national security discourse system of the New Era: one is that “political security is the foundation of national security,” distinguished from “people’s security is the purpose of national security” and “the supremacy of national interests is the principle of national security”; the other is that “political security is the fundamental guarantee for safeguarding people’s security and national interests.” Although the wording of the two formulations differs, there is no essential distinction between them. In the holistic view of national security, political security undoubtedly holds fundamental and overarching significance, providing guarantees of political power and system for other domains of national security. Without the strong guarantee of political security, national security in other domains would be impossible to discuss. It is precisely under this logic that safeguarding political security can effectively ensure people’s security and national interests, realizing the Party’s long-term governance, the nation’s enduring peace and stability, and the people’s peaceful and prosperous life.

其次，在政治安全同人民安全、国家利益至上关系的表述上，新时代国家安全话语体系中有两种提法：一是“政治安全是国家安全的根本”，与“人民安全是国家安全的宗旨”和“国家利益至上是国家安全的准则”相区分；二是“政治安全是维护人民安全和国家利益的根本保证”。尽管从文字表达看，两种提法有所不同，但却没有本质区别。在总体国家安全意义上，政治安全无疑具有根本性、全局性重大意义，为其他领域国家安全提供政权和制度保证，如果没有政治安全的有力保证，其他领域国家安全便无从谈起。也正是在此种逻辑下，维护好政治安全才能切实保障人民安全和国家利益，实现党的长期执政、国家长治久安和人民安居乐业。

II. Purpose and Center: The People’s Standpoint of People’s Security

二、宗旨与中心：人民安全的人民立场

The positioning of people’s security within the strategic ideological system of the holistic view of national security is “purpose.” Since the proposal of the holistic view of national security and its continuous enrichment and development, “taking people’s security as the purpose” has always been one of the core tenets of the holistic view of national security. Whether in the national security legal system, strategic system, or policy system, there are numerous expressions related to “people’s security.” In the national security legal system, Article 16 of the “National Security Law” promulgated in 2015 stipulates that “the state safeguards and develops the fundamental interests of the broadest majority of the people and protects people’s security”; Article 28 of the “Data Security Law” issued in 2021 stipulates that “when conducting data processing activities and researching and developing new data technologies, it shall… enhance the well-being of the people”; Article 1 of the newly revised “Counter-Espionage Law” in 2023 stipulates “safeguarding national security and protecting the interests of the people,” and so forth. In the national security strategic system, the “Outline of the National Security Strategy” reviewed and adopted by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee in 2015 proposed “taking people’s security as the purpose”; the “National Security Strategy (2021–2025)” reviewed by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee in 2021 pointed out “achieving the unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests,” and so on. In the national security policy system, expressions related to people’s security such as “people first,” “life first,” “putting the people first,” and “people-oriented” are too numerous to list individually. However, within the national security system, people’s security is not an independent domain of national security. The reason for this can be understood by grasping the relationship between national security and the people’s interests: on the one hand, national security is an important cornerstone for stabilizing the country and ensuring its security, and the foundation for national rejuvenation; safeguarding national security is the fundamental interest of the people. On the other hand, as Xi Jinping pointed out, in the relationship among political security, people’s security, and national interests, “people’s security occupies a central position; national security ultimately serves to protect the interests of the people.” Thus, people’s security effectively becomes a core value pursuit in safeguarding national security across all domains.

人民安全在总体国家安全观战略思想体系中的定位是“宗旨”，自总体国家安全观提出到此后的不断丰富发展，“以人民安全为宗旨”一直是总体国家安全观的核心要义之一。不管是在国家安全法治体系、战略体系，抑或政策体系中，均有不少“人民安全”相关表述。在国家安全法治体系中，2015年颁布《国家安全法》第16条规定“国家维护和发展最广大人民的根本利益，保卫人民安全”，2021年出台《数据安全法》第28条规定“开展数据处理活动以及研究开发数据新技术，应当……增进人民福祉”，2023年新修订《反间谍法》第1条规定“维护国家安全，保护人民利益”等；在国家安全战略体系中，2015年中央政治局审议通过《国家安全战略纲要》提出“以人民安全为宗旨”，2021年中央政治局审议《国家安全战略（2021—2025年）》指出“实现政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上相统一”等；在国家安全政策体系中，“人民至上”“生命至上”“以民为本”“以人为本”等有关人民安全的表述更是不胜枚举。但在国家安全体系中，人民安全并非一个独立的国家安全领域，究其原因，可通过把握国家安全和人民利益间的关系看到：一方面，国家安全是安邦定国的重要基石、民族复兴的根基，维护国家安全是人民的根本利益所在；另一方面，如习近平所指出在政治安全、人民安全、国家利益三者关系中“人民安全居于中心地位，国家安全归根到底是保障人民利益”。由此，人民安全实际上成为维护各领域国家安全的一种核心价值追求。

Within the national security discourse system of the New Era, taking people’s security as the purpose constitutes the fundamental standpoint of national security, and is also a concentrated manifestation of adhering to the people-centered development thought and the purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly. The core connotation of taking people’s security as the purpose includes two major aspects: national security is entirely for the people, and national security relies entirely on the people. That national security is entirely for the people means it is necessary to focus on solving security issues strongly reflected by the people, actively respond to the people’s expectations for national peace and public security, and effectively safeguard the people’s security rights and interests. That national security relies entirely on the people means it is necessary to fully mobilize the initiative, creativity, and activity of the broad masses of the people, always regard the people as the foundational force of national security, and gather a powerful synergy for safeguarding national security.

在新时代国家安全话语体系下，以人民安全为宗旨构成国家安全的根本立场，亦是坚持以人民为中心的发展思想、全心全意为人民服务宗旨的集中展现。以人民安全为宗旨的核心内涵包括国家安全一切为了人民、一切依靠人民两大方面。国家安全一切为了人民，就必须着力解决人民群众反映强烈的安全问题，积极回应人民群众对国泰民安的期盼，切实维护人民群众的安全权益；一切依靠人民则必须充分发挥广大人民群众的积极性、主动性、创造性，始终把人民作为国家安全基础性力量，汇聚维护国家安全的强大合力。

Regarding the relationship between people’s security, political security, and the supremacy of national interests, after the 26th collective study session of the 19th Central Political Bureau in 2020 proposed “upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests,” “people’s security” was moved from its original first position to second, after “political security.” However, this does not signify a decline in the status of “people’s security,” because within the national security discourse system of the New Era, there are also two formulations regarding the relationship between people’s security, political security, and the supremacy of national interests: first, “people’s security is the purpose of national security,” which is consistent with the expression “taking people’s security as the purpose” among the “five elements” of the holistic approach to national security; second, “people’s security occupies a central position, and national security ultimately comes down to safeguarding the people’s interests,” which is distinguished from “political security is the fundamental guarantee for safeguarding people’s security and national interests” and “the supremacy of national interests is the requirement and principle for realizing people’s security and political security.” Among these, whether positioned as “purpose” or “center,” both suffice to demonstrate the core value of people’s security within the triadic relationship and even within overall national security. To put it plainly, in the process of socialist modernization, safeguarding political security and upholding the supremacy of national interests are ultimately aimed at realizing people’s security and protecting the fundamental interests of the people; the three are ultimately unified in the people-centered nature of national security.

在人民安全同政治安全、国家利益至上的关系上，“人民安全”在2020年十九届中央政治局第二十六次集体学习提出“坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一”后，由原先排序第一移至“政治安全”之后变为第二。但是，这并非意味着“人民安全”地位的下降，因为在新时代国家安全话语体系中，对人民安全同政治安全、国家利益至上关系的表述，也有两种提法：一是“人民安全是国家安全的宗旨”，其与总体国家安全观“五大要素”中“以人民安全为宗旨”的表述保持一致；二是“人民安全居于中心地位，国家安全归根到底是保障人民利益”，与“政治安全是维护人民安全和国家利益的根本保证”和“国家利益至上是实现人民安全和政治安全的要求和原则”相区别。而在这之中，不管是“宗旨”还是“中心”的定位，都足以说明人民安全在三者关系乃至总体国家安全中的核心价值，申言之，在社会主义现代化建设进程中，维护政治安全、坚持国家利益至上归根到底都是为了实现人民安全，保障人民的根本利益，三者最终统合于国家安全的人民性。

III. Requirements and Principles: The Code of Conduct of the Supremacy of National Interests

三、要求与原则：国家利益至上的行为准则

National interests are the sum total of a sovereign state’s needs for survival and development in the international community. The supremacy of national interests means that, among the various relationships of interests between states and within a state, national interests are the most important and should be given the highest priority. Within the strategic thought system of the holistic approach to national security, unlike political security and people’s security, which are respectively positioned as “fundamental” and “purpose,” the supremacy of national interests has not been given an explicit positioning. However, within the national security discourse system of the New Era, besides listing the supremacy of national interests alongside political security and people’s security, a common expression is to place “upholding the supremacy of national interests” before the “five elements” and “five pairs of relationships” of the holistic approach to national security. For example, the report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, after stating “we must uphold the supremacy of national interests,” then proposed “taking people’s security as the purpose, political security as the foundation, and coordinating external and internal security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and one’s own security and common security.” [2]2 The 19th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2017. Another example: the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century, reviewed and approved at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, when summarizing the historic achievements and historic changes in safeguarding national security in the New Era, pointed out: “Uphold the supremacy of national interests, take people’s security as the purpose, political security as the foundation, economic security as the basis, military, scientific and technological, cultural, and social security as safeguards, and the promotion of international security as a support; coordinate development and security, openness and security, traditional and non-traditional security, one’s own security and common security, and the maintenance of national security and the shaping of national security.” [3]3 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee was held in 2021. It is evident that the supremacy of national interests governs the “five elements” and “five pairs of relationships,” which are the essential essence of the holistic approach to national security. It is in this sense that implementing the holistic approach to national security and upholding the supremacy of national interests are highly unified.

国家利益是一个主权国家在国际社会中生存和发展需求之总和，国家利益至上意味着在国与国之间、国家内部各种利益关系中国家利益是最为重要的，应当予以最优先考虑。在总体国家安全观战略思想体系中，不同于政治安全、人民安全分别有“根本”和“宗旨”的定位，对国家利益至上并未作出明确的定位。但是，在新时代国家安全话语体系中，除了将国家利益至上同政治安全、人民安全并列表述外，一个常见的表达方式是把“坚持国家利益至上”放到总体国家安全观的“五大要素”“五对关系”之前。例如，党的十九大报告在“必须坚持国家利益至上”后，才提出“以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本，统筹外部安全和内部安全、国土安全和国民安全、传统安全和非传统安全、自身安全和共同安全”。又如，党的十九届六中全会审议通过《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》在总结新时代维护国家安全的历史性成就和历史性变革时指出：“坚持国家利益至上，以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本，以经济安全为基础，以军事、科技、文化、社会安全为保障，以促进国际安全为依托，统筹发展和安全，统筹开放和安全，统筹传统安全和非传统安全，统筹自身安全和共同安全，统筹维护国家安全和塑造国家安全。”可见，国家利益至上统摄了作为总体国家安全观精髓要义的“五大要素”和“五对关系”，正是在这个意义上，贯彻总体国家安全观与坚持国家利益至上存在高度统一的关系。

Regarding the relationship between the supremacy of national interests and political security and people’s security, there are also two formulations in the national security discourse system of the New Era: first, “the supremacy of national interests is the criterion of national security”; “criterion” can be understood as “the principle (standard) that permits,” used to guide and regulate behavior, activities, or decisions in specific fields, thereby distinguishing this expression from the positioning of political security as “foundation” and people’s security as “purpose”; second, “the supremacy of national interests is the requirement and principle for realizing people’s security and political security.” This expression links the supremacy of national interests with political security and people’s security, indicating that realizing both people’s security and political security must take “the supremacy of national interests” as a requirement and principle. This reflects the governing role of “the supremacy of national interests” over the other two in the triadic relationship. In fact, China’s state system and form of government determine that national interests are necessarily the concentrated embodiment of the people’s interests; national interests constitute the “greatest common divisor” of the people’s interests. The supremacy of national interests and the paramountcy of the people’s interests are highly consistent, and safeguarding national interests, as a highly collectivized act, inevitably requires the joint efforts of the broad masses of the people.

在国家利益至上同政治安全、人民安全的关系上，新时代国家安全话语体系中同样有两种提法：一是“国家利益至上是国家安全的准则”，“准则”可以理解为“准许的原则（标准）”，其用于指导、规范特定领域的行为、活动或决策，以此表述同政治安全是“根本”、人民安全是“宗旨”的定位区别开来；二是“国家利益至上是实现人民安全和政治安全的要求和原则”，这种表达又将国家利益至上同政治安全、人民安全联系起来，而实现人民安全和政治安全均要以“国家利益至上”作为要求和原则，这反映出在三者关系中“国家利益至上”对另两者的统摄性。实际上，我国的国体和政体决定了国家利益必然是人民利益的集中体现，国家利益构成人民利益的“最大公约数”，国家利益至上和人民利益高于一切是高度一致的，而维护国家利益作为一种高度集体化的行为，必然需要依靠广大人民群众共同努力。

IV. Methods and Pathways: Coordinating Political Security, People’s Security, and the Supremacy of National Interests

四、方法与路径：统筹政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上

The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC pointed out: “We must unswervingly implement the holistic approach to national security, integrate the maintenance of national security into all aspects and the entire process of the work of the Party and the state, and ensure national security and social stability.” [4]4 The 20th National Congress of the CPC was held in 2022. As the fundamental guidance and action guide for national security work in the New Era, the holistic approach to national security emphasizes the use of systematic thinking to scientifically coordinate national security in various fields and key national security matters. In terms of methods and pathways, to uphold the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests, it is necessary to fully implement the holistic approach to national security, combining and dialectically unifying the three, and through scientifically coordinating the relationships among them, to rationally and steadily prevent and respond to severe and complex security risks and challenges of all kinds.

党的二十大报告指出：“必须坚定不移贯彻总体国家安全观，把维护国家安全贯穿党和国家工作各方面全过程，确保国家安全和社会稳定。”作为新时代国家安全工作的根本遵循和行动指南，总体国家安全观强调运用系统思维对各领域国家安全、国家安全重点事项进行科学统筹。在方法路径上，坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一，就必须全面贯彻总体国家安全观，把三者相互结合、辩证统一起来，通过科学统筹三者间的关系，理性稳妥防范应对严峻复杂的各类安全风险挑战。

First, take the holistic approach to national security as the guide for scientific coordination. The holistic approach to national security is the fundamental guideline for national security work in the New Era. Its key lies in the word “holistic,” highlighting the concept of “comprehensive security.” The systematic thinking inherent in “holistic” and “comprehensive security” has very important methodological significance for upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests. On the one hand, under the guidance of the goal of pursuing overall national security, it is necessary to scientifically coordinate political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests, always placing the three within the overall context of the Party’s and the state’s undertakings for planning and advancement, coordinating the interest relationships of all sides, fully mobilizing all positive and favorable factors, and maximizing the pooling of wisdom and strength from all sides; on the other hand, it is necessary to closely integrate the national conditions, political conditions, and public sentiment under the new situation to coordinate and grasp the relationships among the three, so as to effectively respond to new changes and new trends in which the connotation and extension of national security are richer, the spatial and temporal fields are broader, and internal and external factors are more complex, continuously opening up new prospects for national security work in the New Era.

第一，以总体国家安全观为指导科学统筹。总体国家安全观是新时代国家安全工作的根本指针，其关键在“总体”二字，突出的是“大安全”理念，“总体”和“大安全”所蕴含的系统思维对坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一具有十分重要的方法论意义。一方面，要在追求总体国家安全的目标指引下，科学统筹政治安全、人民安全和国家利益至上，始终把三者置于党和国家事业发展全局加以谋划推进，统筹协调各方面的利益关系，充分调动一切积极有利因素，最大限度把各方面智慧和力量凝聚起来；另一方面，要紧密结合新形势下的国情、政情、民情统筹把握三者之关系，以有效应对国家安全内涵外延更加丰富、时空领域更加宽广、内外因素更加复杂的新变化新趋势，不断开创新时代国家安全工作新局面。

Second, fully leverage the different roles and functions of each of the three. In the New Era, the respective connotations and positions of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests are directly reflected in the national security discourse system of “political security—foundation—fundamental guarantee,” “people’s security—purpose—central position,” and “supremacy of national interests—criterion—requirement and principle.” It is precisely the different connotations and positions of the three that determine their roles, functions, and corresponding realization pathways. For political security, we should focus on its “foundational” positioning, unwaveringly place political security, especially regime security and institutional security, in the primary position, unswervingly uphold and strengthen the Party’s leadership, enhance the “Four Consciousnesses,” [5]5 The “Four Consciousnesses” refers to the consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in terms of the big picture, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership. strengthen the “Four Confidences,” [6]6 The “Four Confidences” refers to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. and achieve the “Two Upholds,” [7]7 The “Two Upholds” refers to upholding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and upholding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. providing a strong political guarantee for safeguarding people’s security and national interests. For people’s security, we should highlight its “central” positioning, firmly stand on the people’s side, adhere to the principle that national security is for the people, relies on the people, and mobilizes the people, build a strong people’s line of defense for national security, and gather the people’s strength to jointly safeguard national security and social stability. For the supremacy of national interests, we should emphasize its “paramount” positioning, take national interests as the starting point and ultimate goal of safeguarding national security, as the requirement and principle for realizing political security and people’s security, firmly safeguard national dignity and core interests, and firmly grasp the initiative in development and security.

第二，充分发挥三者各自不同的作用功能。在新时代，政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上各自内涵与定位，直接体现于“政治安全—根本—根本保证”、“人民安全—宗旨—中心地位”、“国家利益至上—准则—要求和原则”的国家安全话语体系中，正是三者的不同内涵与定位决定了其作用功能及相应的实现路径。对政治安全，要着眼于“根本性”定位，坚持把政治安全尤其是政权安全、制度安全放在首要位置，毫不动摇坚持和加强党的领导，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”，做到“两个维护”，为维护人民安全和国家利益提供坚强政治保证。对人民安全，应突出其“中心性”定位，站稳人民立场，坚持国家安全为了人民、依靠人民、动员人民，筑牢国家安全人民防线，汇聚人民力量共同维护国家安全和社会稳定。对国家利益至上，则要强调“最高性”定位，把国家利益作为维护国家安全的出发点和落脚点，作为实现政治安全、人民安全的要求和原则，坚定维护国家尊严和核心利益，牢牢掌握发展和安全主动权。

Third, organically unify the three in the modernization of national security. The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC put forward the overall requirement of “modernizing the national security system and capacity,” and upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests must implement this requirement. First, it must be recognized that China’s state system and form of government determine that the Party, the people, and the state are an indivisible “community with a shared future,” which in turn determines that political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests are an organic whole that is closely linked and mutually reinforcing. In the historical process of coordinating political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests in the New Era, the three must be unified in the theoretical and practical consciousness of national security modernization. Second, modernizing the national security system and capacity should be comprehensively advanced from aspects such as the national security system, national security capacity, public security governance, and social governance system. Upholding the organic unity of political security, people’s security, and the supremacy of national interests must be closely centered on these issues, placing greater emphasis on synergy and efficiency, rule-of-law thinking, technological empowerment, and grassroots foundations. Finally, from the perspective of the increasingly prominent importance of national security, it is the most basic and most important interest of the state. Only by taking the supremacy of national interests as the highest code of conduct can national political security be truly safeguarded, and the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security be continuously enhanced.

第三，把三者有机统一于国家安全现代化。党的二十大报告提出“推进国家安全体系和能力现代化”的总体要求，坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一必须贯彻落实这一要求。首先，必须认识到我国的国体和政体决定了党、人民、国家是一个不可分割的“命运共同体”，这又决定了政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上三者是紧密关联、相辅相成的有机整体。在新时代统筹政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上的历史进程中，三者必然统一于国家安全现代化的理论和实践自觉。其次，推进国家安全体系和能力现代化应从国家安全体系、国家安全能力、公共安全治理、社会治理体系等方面综合着力，坚持政治安全、人民安全、国家利益至上有机统一必须紧紧围绕这些问题而展开，更加注重协同高效、法治思维、科技赋能、基层基础。最后，从国家安全日渐凸显的重要性角度，其是国家最基本、最重要的利益，只有把国家利益至上作为最高行为准则，才能真正维护国家政治安全，不断增强人民的获得感、幸福感、安全感。

(The author is an associate professor at the School of National Security, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and a researcher at the Institute for a Holistic Approach to National Security, PhD.)

（作者系西南政法大学国家安全学院副教授、总体国家安全观研究院研究员，博士）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧