China’s Prez Xi Jinping calls for modernised army ‘built to fight’
LOFTY TARGET People’s Liberation Army to be fully mechanised by 2020, revamped organisationally by 2035
BEIJING : President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said China will build a powerful and modern is ed military and transform it into a world-class force under the Communist Party’ s leadership within the next two decades.
The target is to complete the mechanisation of the armed forces by 2020 and to modernise the army, navy and air force in terms of organisational structure and weaponry by 2035, Xi told more than 2,200 delegates and senior Communist Party members who had gathered at the Great Hall of the People for the inauguration of the party’s 19th national congress.
On broader terms, he said China was at a key juncture in its history. “The Chinese nation ... has stood up, grown rich, and become strong - and it now embraces the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation... It will be an era that sees China moving closer to centre stage and making greater contributions to mankind,” said the 64-year-old Xi, who is set for a second term in office.
Xi’ s comments on the military were specific .“Our military must regard combat capability as the criterion to meet in all its work and focus on how to win when it is called on. We will take solid steps to ensure military preparedness for all strategic directions,” he said.
Founded in 1927, the People’s Liberation Army now has almost two million service personnel.
Throughout his three-and-ahalf hour-long speech, Xi called on the Communist Party to urge its members not only to safeguard China’s sovereignty but also to revitalise Chinese culture, oppose“erroneous” ideology and promote religion that is“Chinese in origin”.
He pledged to build a“modern socialist country” for a“new era” and said that by 2050, China would become a “strong power” with leading influence on the world stage.
The official title and aim of the conclave was, for the Communist Party, characteristic ally longwinded :“Secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and strive for the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era”.