President Xi Jinping is pushing China’s 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to train hard to win wars. China is undergoing radical transformations to increase its combat capability amid rising tensions over the disputed South China Sea.
Reorganised from top to bottom by Xi in the last four years, the (PLA) — the world’s largest — is bracing for major showdowns in its increasingly volatile neighbourhood triggered by the international tribunal verdict quashing China’s expansive claims over the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS).
Reform is a comprehensive and revolutionary change, and obstacles and policy issues that may hold back reform measures must be addressed so as to build a strong armed forces commensurate with China’s international status, Xi said as he consolidated his hold over the military to emerge as the most powerful Chinese leader in recent times.
Focusing his attention on the PLA the day he took power in 2013, Xi wanted the military to function under the command of the Party, increase its capability to win wars and operate in proper working style by weeding out corruption.
Xi also stepped up PLA’s reorganisation and brought the entire command and control under the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body headed by him.
On 20 April, Xi appeared in public with a new title of commander-in-chief of the newly-established CMC joint battle command centre which he inspected dressed in camouflage fatigues.
(With inputs from PTI.)