Preamble
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, so does China’s national defense and military development. China’s armed forces have been through an all-around revolutionary restructuring under the firm leadership of the Party in preparation for the next stage, while our defense capabilities have grown in step with our economic strength. Integration of national strategic systems and capabilities has accelerated, sound administrative and support systems for ex-service members have been established, defense mobilization has become more efficient, and greater unity has been cultivated between the military and the government and between the military and civilians. China’s armed forces firmly follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, unswervingly uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, continue to enhance political loyalty, strengthen themselves through reform, science and technology and training of competent personnel, and run them in accordance with the law, comprehensively strengthen military training and combat readiness, and work tirelessly to achieve the Party’s goal of building a strong military in the new era, developing world-class forces in an all-round way and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
1. Enhancing the political loyalty of the armed forces
The Gutian Military Political Work Conference was held in 2014, marking a new journey of development for the people’s military and a new chapter of enhancing the political loyalty of the armed forces. China’s armed forces fully implement the CMC chairman responsibility system and resolutely follow the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the CMC and President Xi. China’s armed forces have carried out in-depth study of the history of the CPC as a source of strength for building a strong military. China’s armed forces pass on the fine traditions of revolution, shoulder the task of strengthening the military, sustain and carry forward the proud traditions and fine conduct of the Party and the military, and bring together a mighty force to build a strong military. China’s armed forces bear in mind their glorious history, revere revolutionary martyrs, and honor heroes of the nation. Since 2014, the remains of 825 Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) martyrs have been taken back from the ROK in 8 batches and buried in the CPV martyrs’ cemetery in Shenyang.
2. Strengthening the military through reform
The strategy of strengthening the military through reform has been fully implemented. This reform has reshaped the leadership and command system of the people’s militay, the modern military structure, and its policies and institutions, and injected fresh life into the people’s military. The general principle of “the CMC exercising overall leadership, the TCs being responsible for military operations and the services focusing on developing capabilities” was established and the reform began with the reshaping of the military leadership and command system. Fifteen functional organs were reorganized and established under the CMC. A CMC-TCs-Troops operations command system has been established and a CMC-Services-Troops leadership and management system has been put in place.
3. Strengthening the armed forces through science and technology
China’s armed forces have implemented the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through science and technology to make the people’s military more innovative. Great efforts have been made to improve the independent innovation ability in national defense technologies, build up our country’s strength in science and technology, and excel in innovation and development. China’s armed forces have strengthened the studies on major technologies and new concepts that are prospective, pioneering and exploratory, accelerated the development of technologies in emerging domains, enhanced efforts to seek breakthroughs in core technologies, and strived to win a leading position in cutting-edge technologies.
4. Strengthening the military through talents
The strategy of strengthening the military through talents in the new era has been implemented. In response to the call of building a military capable of fighting and winning wars, China’s armed forces have made efforts to build a new military personnel system, cultivating military talents for joint operations command, new-type combat forces, high-level scientific and technological innovation, and high-quality strategic management. The project of high-level innovative talents of science and technology has been enhanced and policies for attracting talents, team support and classified assessment have been introduced. China’s armed forces have deepened the reform and innovation of military academies and cultivated new-type, high-quality and specialized military talents possessing both ability and integrity. The Interim Regulations on Non-commissioned Officers and the related laws and regulations have come into force, in an effort to enhance the professionalism and stability of the NCO corps and ensure that the NCOs are loyal to the Party, professional, dedicated and of fine conduct. China’s armed forces have established a unified system of civilian staff, expanded the positions for them, and attracted civilian talents to serve the military.
5. Running the armed forces in accordance with the law
The modernization and informationization of the military should be achieved through law-based governance. China’s armed forces have implemented the strategy of running the armed forces in accordance with the law, accelerated the transformations in the way of running the military and improved law-based governance in the development of national defense and the military. In February 2015, the CMC issued the Decision on Promoting Law-Based Governance of the Military and Strict Enforcement of the Discipline in the New Era. In May 2017, President Xi signed the order to launch the Regulations on Military Legislation.
6. Strengthening military training and combat readiness
China’s armed forces have vigorously cultivated the officers’ and soldiers’ fighting spirit and heroism of “no fear of hardship or death”, resolutely fulfill their missions and tasks in the new era to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, conduct military operations with firm will and appropriate flexibility, respond effectively to external military threats, deter separatist activities pursuing “Taiwan independence”, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, insist on training for combat and promoting combat capability through training so as to train in accordance with actual combat requirements and integrate military training with real combat. Real combat conditions have been created to enhance the difficulty and intensity of force-on-force exercises.
7. Loving the people and maintaining peace
China’s armed forces have participated in poverty alleviation. By 2020, all the 4,100 villages, 293,000 households, and 924,000 people receiving targeted support from the military have been lifted out of poverty. Implementing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and fulfilling the obligations of the armed forces of a major country, China’s armed forces have been providing the international community with more and more public security goods. In accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, By January 2022, over 120 Chinese PLA Navy vessels and more than 31,000 officers and sailors have been regularly deployed in 40 convoys to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somali in vessel protection operations. They have provided security protection for over 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships in total, over half of which were foreign ships. Since it was commissioned, the PLAN hospital ship Ark Peace has fulfilled voyages code-named “Mission Harmony” and provided humanitarian medical services overseas. By 2019, it has conducted 9 overseas operations, sailing more than 240,000 nautical miles, providing services to 43 countries and regions and to over 230,000 people.