Being alert to danger even in times of peace

This idiom first appeared in Zuo Zhuan (Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals), a book believed to be written by the historian Zuoqiu Ming (556-451 BC). It is a far-sighted vision that calls on people to be prepared for potential danger and urges the rulers to reflect on their political philosophy. It also encourages the people to maintain an enterprising spirit.

At the first meeting of the National Security Commission under the 19th CPC Central Committee held in April 2018, Xi Jinping said: The road ahead will not be plain sailing. The brighter the prospects, the more we should increase our awareness of potential dangers, raise our vigilance, and fully understand and effectively address major risks and challenges. We must prevent internal and external risks and challenges from interacting, combining and accumulating, so as to constantly improve our national security.

居安思危

“居安思危”出自《左傳》，意為處在安寧的環境中，要想到可能出現的危難。這是一種長遠、積極的憂患意識，告誡人們要隨時有應對意外事件的思想準備。“居安思危”不僅成為歷代有為的執政者時時警醒自己的政治理念，也是民眾積極進取的一種精神體現。

2018年4月，習近平在十九屆中央國家安全委員會第一次會議上指出，前進的道路不可能一帆風順，越是前景光明，越是要增強憂患意識，做到居安思危，全面認識和有力應對一些重大風險挑戰，著力防范各類風險挑戰內外聯動、累積疊加，不斷提高國家安全能力。