China's Xi tells military to focus on combat readiness

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China’s President Xi Jinping on Wednesday stressed strengthening the planning on future reforms in the country’s armed forces while directing the military to focus on combat readiness.

Over the decade, Xi said China was able to "solve long-standing systemic obstructions, structural incongruities, and policy issues in the development of national defense and the armed forces."

Chairman of Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Military Commission (CMC) Xi made these comments during a seminar in Beijing, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Calling for better use of "successful experience" during the reforms carried out in national defense and the armed forces, Xi stressed "striving for new horizons for strengthening the armed forces through reform."

Xi, whose leadership is expected to be debated next month during the 20th National Congress of the CPC, "demanded earnest summarization and application of successful experience in past reforms, understanding of the new situation and missions, and a focus on combat readiness."

He said the CMC had "fully implemented the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through reform with unprecedented determination and efforts."

He also noted the "pioneering and innovative efforts to implement reform tasks and strengthen planning on future reforms, so as to provide strong impetus for achieving the goal set” for the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army in 2026.