Photo:CGTN

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), underlined the CPC's leadership in military systems and achieving the centennial goal set for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) prior to China's Army Day - the 94th anniversary of the founding of the PLA - on August 1. The PLA's loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC) is an important principle and pathway to achieve the centennial goal of building a modern army, analysts said.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and the Chinese president, stressed the strengthening of history education among officers and soldiers of the Chinese armed forces to ensure their allegiance to the CPC's leadership in his article to be published on Army Day (August 1) in this year's 15th issue of the Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. 

The article stressed that the most fundamental reason why the PLA has been able to overcome all kinds of difficulties and constantly earn victories is that it unswervingly follows the Party's instructions. It is important to ensure that the troops are absolutely loyal and reliable, the article said.

The fundamental principle and system of the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces are the political characteristics and rooted advantages of the PLA forces that completely distinguish them from all other old-style armed forces, the article said. 

Xi has also called for the resolute will and determination to work hard in a down-to-earth way to achieve the goals set for the centennial of the PLA when he made the remarks on Friday upon addressing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. 

He extended holiday greetings to all members of the Chinese military forces at the session. 

Xi stressed that realizing the centennial goal is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC in pursuing a stronger military. It is a major task relating to China's overall security and development, and a crucial step in the modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

Photo:CGTN

By the year 2027, which marks the centennial of the founding of the PLA in August, 1927, China will build a fully modernized military, a goal that is in alignment with national strength and will fulfill the future national defense need, Chinese analysts said, after the Communiqué of the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, issued on October 29, 2020, setting the development goal of the PLA in the following years.

Only when the army is absolutely loyal to the Party can it effectively accomplish the goal of the "three modernizations" - which include informatization, mechanization and intellectualization - set for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Saturday.

"As the world is not peaceful nowadays, Western countries have constantly taken various moves and campaigns to block and contain China, including even a military besieging strategy. Therefore, it is necessary for China to strengthen the PLA's capabilities of maintaining national security, sovereignty, and the interests of development. This is very important. And this is why Xi mentioned the PLA's loyalty to the Party," said Song.

Xi pointed out on Friday that realizing the centennial goal is the responsibility of the Chinese military, the Party and the whole country. He urged to take into full consideration to the needs of the military in China's economic and social development, strictly implement national defense requirements in the construction of major infrastructure, and actively resolve difficulties in the employment of military families, the schooling of the children of servicemen, the resettlement of veterans, and the implementation of preferential treatment for entitled groups.

Since the centennial goal was put forward last year, major progress has been made in the following aspects: The military personnel have become more professional; the modernization of weaponry and equipment has been updated and strengthened; and the military system reform has been further deepened. All these are important considerations that have been taken into account since the goal was put forward. The military system reform is mainly reflected in the effective adjustment of the mechanism, Song noted.

As the top commander of the PLA, Xi has been leading efforts to modernize national defense and the armed forces, and turn the PLA into a world-class force, according to Xinhua News Agency reports.

To reach this goal, he has designed and carried out massive military reforms and directed military development through meetings, orders and instructions.

In addition, Xi has reviewed troops, visited barracks, boarded armored vehicles and warships, and sent his regards to border patrol soldiers, Xinhua reported.