PEOPLE'S ARMY TRANSFORMED
With an active force of around 2 million, the PLA has come a long way since its birth -- the armed uprising by 20,000 soldiers in the city of Nanchang on Aug. 1, 1927.
The past five years witnessed one of the major transformations in PLA history.
In October 2014, Xi convened a conference on the PLA's political work in Gutian Township, Fujian Province, the same place where Mao Zedong presided over a conference in 1929 to stress the Party's absolute leadership over the military.
"Xi talked in length about the 10 most pressing problems in the military, especially among the officers, showing his great resolve to rectify these problems," recalled Zhu Jiang, a military officer who attended the meeting.
"The political integrity overhaul that began with the Gutian conference has brought real changes, from which we benefit," Zhu said.
Meanwhile, major structural changes took place in the armed forces after late November 2015, when Xi convened a key meeting in Beijing to unleash a sweeping military reform, which Cao, the military academy researcher, described as a "milestone."
A new leadership and command system was set up. The CMC's functional organs were streamlined and reorganized. The leadership and management system for services and arms were improved. Five theater commands were established.
The people's armed forces are transforming from personnel-intensive to science- and technology-intensive. Services have been re-balanced, with navy and rocket forces expanded, non-combat personnel slashed and the combat forces growing.
Military observers say PLA combat capabilities have been greatly enhanced after the reform.
"Historic strides" have been made in strengthening the armed forces, according to a white paper on China's national defense released in July.
PEACE-LOVING MILITARY
As the reshaping within the military goes on, the defensive nature of China's national defense policy remains unchanged.
China will never seek hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence, which is the distinctive feature of the country's national defense in the new era, the white paper said.
It also noted that the global significance of China's national defense is in the service of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
"The PLA has always been a staunch force for world peace, fulfilling its responsibilities and obligations as the military of a major country," said Xiong Yuxiang, a senior researcher with the Academy of Military Sciences of the PLA.
The white paper said China's armed forces have actively provided public security goods to the international community, including UN peacekeeping operations, vessel protection operations, and many others.
"The growth of the Chinese military will make a huge contribution to world peace and stability," Xiong said. "This has been proved by facts."
