Editor's Note

China held a grand reception Tuesday evening in Beijing to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), with President Hu Jintao and other top leaders in attendance.

Addressing the reception, Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said the PLA, founded on August 1, 1927, should "focus on boosting defense and military capabilities, work vigorously to build a more revolutionary, modernized and professional army and enhance its capability to perform diverse military tasks, especially its capability to win local wars in the information technology era."

Latest News

	Six new generals named The Central Military Commission conferred the rank of general on six senior military and police officers on Monday.
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China refutes Japan's annual defense paper, urging it to introspect A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman refuted groundless criticisms on China's national defense policy made by a newly-released Japan's annual defense white paper, urging the country for serious introspection.

Military Highlights

Sansha

Last week, China established the city of Sansha to administer the nearby islands and surrounding waters of the South China Sea. A garrison was also established in the area. Countries around the South China Sea, such as Vietnam, voiced protests against the move. Geng said that the Sansha garrison is to be responsible for defense mobilization, militia reserves and administering the relationship between the garrison and the local government, as well as protecting the area and coordinating any disaster relief that may take place in the area. He did not directly answer whether more troops or military equipment will be sent to the garrison, noting that it will depend on military needs. Click to see more

Aircraft carrier

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said in a recent press briefing that China was sticking to the path of peaceful development and upheld a defense policy that was defensive in nature. China would always be a major force in safeguarding regional and world peace. "Recognizing the profound changes in China as well as in China's relations with the rest of the world, China took a path of peaceful development, which accorded with the world development trend and suited its national realities," Dai Bingguo, Chinese state councilor in charge of foreign policy, wrote in his article entitled "Commitment to Peaceful Development", published in late 2010. Click to see more

South China Sea conflict

Tensions have risen in the South China Sea, where China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other several countries in the region have made overlapping territorial claims over multiple islands. On April 10, a Philippine warship harassed 12 Chinese fishing vessels that had sailed near Huangyan Island to seek shelter from inclement weather, triggering a months-long maritime standoff near the island. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has expressed willingness to use force to resolve territorial disputes with China regarding Diaoyu Island in the East China Sea. A military spokesman on Tuesday warned foreign countries to avoid interfering with territorial disputes between China and its neighbors regarding the South China Sea. "We oppose any country outside the region intervening in these disputes," Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on the sidelines of the conference. Click to see more

J-20 stealth fighter jet

President Hu Jintao reportedly confirmed that China's first stealth fighter jet, the J-20, underwent its first test flight on January 7, 2011, making the first official acknowledgement of the plane's existence since the surfacing of online photos in December. Responding to a question on the fighter jet, Guan Youfei, deputy director of Foreign Affairs Office of the Defense Ministry, said on January 7, 2011, that China's military hardware development was not aimed at any other country. Click to see more

Celebrations

	China holds reception to mark 85th anniversary of PLA founding China held a grand reception Tuesday evening in Beijing to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), with President Hu Jintao and other top leaders in attendance.
	China, Britain celebrate military ties on PLA's 85th birthday Chinese defense attache's office here in London held a reception on Monday to mark the upcoming 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
	Nepal, China speak highly of military ties before PLA's 85th anniversary The Chinese Embassy in Nepal held a reception on Saturday in Kathmandu to mark the upcoming 85th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
	Chinese embassy in Denmark celebrates PLA's 85th birthday The Chinese embassy in Denmark hosted a reception here Monday to mark the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Historical Moments

Comments

People’s Daily	People's Daily Hails PLA's Role The editorial said the key to the PLA's growth was that it revered the Party's leadership and thus maintained great cohesion. It is important to promote the scientific development of national defense forces, improve the core military capability of the armed forces and carry out military-related reform in an active yet prudent manner, the editorial said.
Global Times	Doubts over China’s military development unfounded On the one hand, many Western countries put security pressure on China, and on the other, they exaggerate China's military strength development. China has been restrained in ensuring its security environment, and has not been trying to provoke others. It should be treated fairly.
Xinhua	China stresses Party's absolute leadership over army: military officer A Chinese military officer said Tuesday that the country will resolutely oppose any erroneous ideas about the depoliticization of its army, adding that those ideas have ulterior motives.