President Xi Jinping today called for more reforms in the PLA, the world's largest military, to cope with changing international situation as tensions deepened over the disputed South China Sea after an international tribunal struck down China's claims over the area.
"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, who consolidated hold over the military to emerge as the most powerful Chinese leader, said.
The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the armed forces have been constantly reformed and improved, he said presiding over a group study seminar of the Politburo of the CPC which focused on national defence and military reform.
"Further military reform is needed to cope with changing international situation and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency today.
Xi, 63, who is also the General Secretary of the CPC, called for the building of strong armed forces through military reform.
His comments came as China braced for a more tensions specially with the US in the South China Sea following this months verdict by an international tribunal which struck down China's claims over the area. China has rejected the verdict.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan countered China's claims over all most all of the South China sea.
The 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone major structural changes since Xi took over in 2013 including massive anti corruption campaign in over 40 retired and serving Generals were indicted.
Based on the reform plan, the PLA Army, the PLA Rocket (missile) Force, and the PLA Strategic Support Force were established.
The previous seven military area commands were regrouped into five theatre commands, and the four military departments -- staff, politics, logistics and armaments -- were reorganised into 15 agencies.
With those reforms, the PLA has a system in which the Central Military Commission (CMC) is tasked with the overall administration of the armed forces, while theatre commands focus on combat preparedness, and various armed services pursue development, Xi said.
These measures solved some deep-seated problems that many considered unsolvable, Xi said.
The reform drive marks a historic change in the organisation and structure of the PLA, he said.
The reforms included measures to trim down the PLA by down sizing it by retiring three lakh troops by next year to make leaner force.
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Elaborating on the leadership structure of the party, the CPC communique said members should unite under the party leadership with Xi at "core".
Xi currently heads a seven-member Standing Committee of the party which virtually rules China.
The seven members looking after various aspects of governance included Premier Li Kiang.
The Standing Committee embodies collective leadership in CPC parlance.
Since taking over as the leader of the party in November 2012 and as President and chief of the military in 2013, Xi has been regarded as the most powerful leader after Mao wielding enormous powers, thus reducing the importance of the Standing Committee.
Ahead of the sixth plenary, official media said the party needed a strong leader like Mao, and Xi fitted the bill speculating that the collective leadership may be dispensed away with.
The plenum which concluded its four day meeting here today said members should resolutely safeguard the authority of the CPC and its central, unified leadership while pushing forward the comprehensive and strict governance of the party.
The communique also urged them to become more aware of the need to uphold political integrity, keep in mind the bigger picture, follow the CPC as the core of the Chinese leadership and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy.
"Together we must build a clean and righteous political environment, and ensure that the party unites and leads the people to continuously open up new prospects for socialism with Chinese characteristics," it said.
It also endorsed the expulsion of former party chief of Liaoning Province and senior national legislator Wang Min and former Beijing deputy party chief Lyu Xiwen.
It also confirmed the expulsion of former senior military officials Fan Changmi and Niu Zhizhong.
They were expelled as as part of massive anti-corruption campaign carried out by Xi after he took over as CPC head.
Over 1.01 million officials of the 88.75 million-strong CPC were punished in the anti-graft campaign amid allegations that Xi has also used it to consolidate his hold on the party.
