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A grand blueprint for reform and strength
The rise of a country and the strengthening of an army are always initiated at a key intersection of developments.
With the holding of the CMC reform work conference, an epoch-changing, systematic and revolutionary transformation was formally started, and a blueprint for the great Chinese dream of national rejuvenation was rolled out.
--- The blueprint reflected Chairman Xi’s grand layout for building a strong army through reform.
The fundamental guidelines for deepening reform were stated explicitly: to use the scientific theory of the CPC as its pointer; to use the goal of building a strong army as its guide; to use military strategies and policies under new circumstances as its overall direction; to remove systematic, structural and policy barriers as well as policy problems as its focus; to adopt the modernization of the military as its orientation; and to unleash the combat capacity and vigor of the military as its aim. This would build a solid national defense and a strong military and provide a guarantee for the realization of the two centenary goals and the "Chinese dream" of rejuvenating the nation.
The overall targets of deepening reform were clarified: to make breakthroughs in military administration and joint operational command; to optimize the military structure, enhance policy systems and civilian-military integration; to build a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win digital wars and effectively fulfill its duties; and to perfect the military system with Chinese characteristics.
The measures laid out in the reform were also scientific and powerful: politically building the army while pushing for the organic unity of army leadership and effective command, finalizing the pattern in which the CMC takes charge of the overall administration of armed forces, in which frontline command focuses on combat and various military services pursue their own construction; considering key elements such as rule of law, strictly managing the army and seizing governance of the army while building a power-check supervision and monitoring system; building elite fighting forces, enhancing scale and structures as well as composition while moving from quantity and scale-based to performance-based metrics; aiming to capture the commanding heights in future military competition, fully using innovation-driven development while cultivating new growth points in fighting capacity; making good use of human resources, boosting talent cultivation system reform and policy innovation and enabling every talented person to play their role; implementing military-civilian integration, boosting trans-military and trans-region reforms and the integration of economic growth and defense building.
The reforms are not just moving about chess pieces, but adjusting the chessboard – a reorganization of military authority will surely boost the transformation of the army and its rebirth.
--- The blueprint has fully demonstrated Chairman Xi’s scientific decision to build a strong army through reform.
Deepening national defense and military reforms will certainly cement the spirit of the army to follow the Party. The reform has firmly grasped the fundamental principle of a correct political direction, cementing and improving the principle and system of CPC’s absolute leadership of the army, implementing the systemic responsibility of the CMC chairman and strengthening the CMC’s centralized leadership. The utmost leadership and command of the army is centralized on the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, making sure every movement is commanded by the CPC Central Committee, the CMC and Chairman Xi.
To deepen national defense and military reforms, the key to fighting and winning wars must be highlighted. The reform’s main target is to be capable of winning wars, essentially removing barriers and obstacles that have restrained combat capacity. By establishing the CMC-battle zone command-troops command system, China’s military has taken a key step towards a joint command system. With other measures in downsizing, slimming and the so-called “emptying the cage to change birds” mentality, the ratio of army services has been optimized and new kinds of combat forces strengthened, reflecting modern warfare demands and the current trend of world military transformation.
The deepening of defense and military reforms will certainly consolidate the foundation of building a strong army, which is governing the army in accordance with the law and strictly. The reform started from the optimization of the institutions and supervision system, intensified the independence and authority of discipline inspection, inspection tours, audit and judicial supervision, further clarified the supervision function, fastened the cage regulations and strove to root out hotbeds of corruption. The complete suspension of paid services of the military will purify the military.
The deepening of defense and military reforms will surely unite the impetus and stimulate the vitality of a strong army. These reforms included measures to merge the management duties of officers, enlisted personnel and non-combat staff, to deepen reforms at military academies and to optimize human resources as well as the logistics policy system…. Such creative measures will help attract and bring together talents, and spur the enthusiasm and initiative of personnel to participate in the process of building a strong army. By helping to resolve deep-rooted problems in military-civilian integration, the reform will help form good military-civilian interaction and deeper integration.
The reform of leadership management will drive and boost other reforms. This reform has reflected the characteristics and laws of modern military leadership and the demands of professional division of duties in combat command. It will help centralize the unified leadership and strengthen the management function of the CMC, improve its ability to engage in joint operations, better supervise and check power and implement the principles of streamlining and efficiency. It highlights the scientific and reasonable design of the reforms.
Scientific planning involves expectations for the future, which will see the people’s army have its historic leapfrog progress.
--- This blueprint will definitely focus the tremendous power of the whole army on building a strong military force.
“The historic reform of the Chinese military has officially started”; “The biggest military reform in more than 60 years” …. Chairman Xi’s speech at the CMC reform work conference received strong responses at home and abroad and was studied by all personnel in the barracks.
The entire army and the armed police force, from the snow-covered north to the warm south, from highland outposts to inland plains, from islands and reefs to the Gobi Desert, began to study and implement the spirit of Xi’s speech. The troops talked about reform, vowed to shoulder their responsibilities and voiced confidence, which should be attributed to Xi’s personal stewardship of the reforms, optimistic results of the blueprint and unprecedented morale.
The people’s army has always had a fine tradition of following orders. Faced with the call of building a strong military through reform, personnel checked the schedule, followed the roadmap and moved when orders were given.
The study and research of reform might allow contention of various ideas, but implementation must follow the principle of centralization and unification. Taking the study and implementation of Xi’s speech as a major political task, the whole army studied the reform measures, arming their minds with Xi’s theory on deepening defense and military reforms, strengthening political awareness and responsibility, and implementing all reform tasks to the letter.
In this round of reforms, the leading agencies and leading officials are both reformers and reformed. From the four headquarters to the seven military area commands, from senior leading officials to lower-level officers, everyone has resolutely obeyed revocation, mergers, demotions or reorganization, with a proper attitude to their adjustment. They have taken the lead to uphold political principles, taken care of the overall situation, been disciplined and promoted reform; and set themselves as exemplary roles for the whole army.
Iron discipline is a powerful guarantee of reform. The whole army has upheld the authority and gravity of reform, strengthened the leadership of the CPC committees, strictly implemented their responsibilities, enhanced supervision and inspection, strictly followed rules and regulations in organization, human resources, finance and confidentiality, making sure every reform measure can be advanced powerfully and gradually.
Every major event in the world must start from details. Under the strong leadership of Chairman Xi and the CMC, the entire army and the armed police force have carefully organized the reform and proceeded steadily in a spirit. They have vowed to win a tough war to deepen defense and military reforms.
When the wind and thunder roar, the banners and flags fly and it is time for a grand project to proceed. Faced with an unprecedented test, the people’s army has proceeded without hesitation and braved difficulties to move forward.
The test is written into the epoch-making responsibilities of the Chinese army.
The test is written into the measures of the ability of the Chinese army.
The test is written into the path on which the Chinese army presses ahead to become strong.
