To win battles: PLA newspaper

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is striving to maintain its glorious wartime reputation by advancing military reform and putting paid to the ethos of decadence.

The people have noticed that certain army cadres have only a vague understanding of their mission after a long break from combat, and have become lazy in their primary tasks.

A Monday article in the PLA Daily criticized some army officials for lacking the "awareness of always being ready to fight." Soldiers under their command have not been trained hard enough and the quality of military training is not good enough.

They are just not up for the fight, the article said.

Leading soldiers in battles should be the primary task and ultimate duty of military leaders at all levels. Everything the army does should be about fighting, and everything counts for nothing if the army can not win battles.

Facing very real, complicated threats and fierce military competition, "can the PLA continue to win battles?" the article asked.

Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged the military to reinforce their Party credentials through the principle of "being able to fight and win battles."

According to a key decision published on Friday by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, China will become a modern military power with Chinese characteristics, building a people's army, under the CPC leadership, that is able to win battles. The decision promised to optimize the size and structure of the army, reform the leadership system, and reduce noncombat institutions and personnel.

Party building in the army is of the utmost urgency, necessary to curb the negative ethos and enhance the sense of duty and responsibility of senior army officials.

Combat effectiveness should be a core standard in leadership, logistics, armaments and other sectors of the army. Tactics and training must be regarded as the main job of the army leadership.

Leaders should encourage strategic studies, grasp the internal logic of IT-based wars and enhance their capacity to control informationalized equipment.

They should work out a sound appraisal and incentive system, and a system of talent employment. They should have their hearts set on building an army that wins battles.

Officers and soldiers must unite to complete the mission entrusted to them by the Party and people.