China military on overdrive for quantum leap
BEIJING: President Xi Jinping has urged Chinese military institutions to recruit and train top-level professionals and to develop world-class theories and technologies.
Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said well-educated personnel, good theories and advanced technologies are essential to building a top-class military.
He said science and technology determine military combat capabilities so the People’s Liberation Army must make more effort in research and development and continue to boost innovation.
Xi made the remarks at a ceremony on Wednesday at the Central Military Commission headquarters building in Beijing that marked the establishment of the new PLA Academy of Military Science, PLA National Defence University and PLA National University of Defence Technology.
The president asked the Academy of Military Science to adapt to new situations in research and development and to strengthen interorganisational and interdisciplinary innovation.
He ordered the National Defence University and National University of Defence Technology to produce more commanders and professionals who are qualified for modern joint operations.
This is the second time this year that Xi has publicly raised the importance of science and technology to the PLA. In a meeting with national legislators from the military in March, he said the PLA should take advantage of China’s achievements in science and technology to help modernise weapons and equipment.
The president told officers to look for, support and make full use of advanced technologies that can serve the military’s modernisation and to assist the transfer of defence technologies to the business sector.
Wednesday’s ceremony marked the completion of PLA’s reshuffling in its research and training system, part of the ongoing massive reform on China’s national defence and mil- itary, guided by Xi.
By the end of February, the PLA had 74 schools and an Academy of Military Science. Thirty-one schools were merged with others before the end of June. There are 43 military schools plus a new Academy of Military Science, according to information from the Defence Ministry.
The new Academy of Military Science, National Defence University and National University of Defence Technology have new leaders.
Lt-Gen Yang Xuejun is president of the Academy of Military Science. He was head of the former National University of Defence Technology since 2011. Yang specialises in supercomputing technology.
Lt-Gen Zheng He is president of the National Defence University. He was president of the former Academy of Military Science.
Maj-Gen Deng Xiaogang is president of the National University of Defence Technology. As an expert in aerodynamics, he served as vice-president at the university before the appointment.