Xi announces consolidation of China’s Armed Forces

BEIJING – Following three days of meetings on discussing the reform of China’s Armed Forces, Prsident Xi Jinping has urged the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to maintain “correct political direction” as the authority of the Forces is consolidated under the Central Military Commission (CMC), of which Xi is Chairman.

The State newsagency, Xinhua, said the President outlined “a series of designs and arrangements” meant to consolidate the basic principle that “the Communist Party of China (CPC) has absolute leadership of the Armed Forces”.

Xinhua said that with 2020 as the deadline for structural reform, the CMC would take charge of the overall administration of the PLA and the Chinese People’s Armed Police; that battle zone commands will focus on combat; and that different military services 'will pursue their own construction'.

Xi reportedly cited measures to “integrate the administrative system and the joint battle command system”, including a general command centre for land forces, enabling the CMC to directly administer and command various military departments.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).