  A confining quantum chromodynamics (QCD) model is formulated on the basis of
a new general Yang-Mills $SU_3$ symmetry. The general Yang-Mills
transformations involve arbitrary vector gauge functions $\omega_\mu(x)$ and
Hamilton's characteristic phase functions. We derive fourth-order equations for
new `phase fields', which predicts dual linear and Coulomb-like potentials for
quark confinement. The quantum of the `phase field' is called `confion'. The
confion coupling strength turns out to be small, $g_s^2/(4\pi) \approx 0.2$,
based on Cornell's results for charmonium. Confions have indefinite energies.
However, such unphysical energies of confions cannot be detected because they
are permanently confined within the quark systems. Furthermore, Green functions
associated with confions do not propagate in space-time.
