REFORM KEY TO BUILDING A STRONGER ARMY
Xi said deepening defence and military reforms are a crucial step for the military's future, a sure path to a strong military, and a call of the time to realize the Chinese dream as well as a strong military dream.
He called on the military and related sectors to rally behind the strategy of strengthening the military through reforms.
The move to deepen defense and military reform is aimed at breaking down systematic, structural and policy barriers, modernizing the organization of the military, further unleashing the combat capacity and vigor of the military.
It should also aim at building a firm defense and strong military commensurate with China's international standing and interests in security and development.
Xi said, the history of the people's army is one of reform and innovation. "Under the leadership of the Party, the army has gone from small to large, from weak to strong, and from victory to victory," Xi said.
The reason why the military has stayed vigorous is that it has kept pace with times and never ceased reforming itself, Xi added.
"Now, as the country progresses from a large country to a large and powerful one, defense and military development stands at a new and historic starting line, Xi said.
Taking into consideration the world's larger picture as well as profound and complicated changes in the international landscape, "We must deepen defense and military reforms with greater wisdom and courage," Xi said.
Xi stressed the importance of regulating power within the military, demanding a strict system to regulate and supervise the use of power.
"Decision-making, enforcement and supervision powers should be separated and distributed in a manner that ensures they serve as checks and balances on each other but also run in parallel," Xi said.
Solving the problem of weak discipline enforcement and inspection, auditing and judicial supervision processes of the military are paramount, Xi said, pledging to eradicate the "soil" of corruption with stricter rules and systems.
A new discipline inspection commission will be established within the CMC and disciplinary inspectors will be sent to CMC departments and zone commands.
The CMC will have an audit office and a political and legal affairs commission. The independent and fair exertion of judicial power by military courts and procuratorates will be ensured with adjustments to the military judicial system.
The structure of troops will be optimized to improve the quality and efficiency of the army. A "revolution" of the management of the military will be rolled out with modern management techniques so that the army is managed professionally, Xi said.
