CHINA-PLA: REFORM

On the occasion of the PLA's 90th Founding Anniversary on August 1, 2018 China's official news agency Xinhua published an article reviewing Xi Jinping’s military reforms over the past three years. It listed the following aceivements: i) "Military organizations were revamped, and the joint combat command mechanism was improved."; ii)"The four military headquarters -- staff, politics, logistics, and armaments -- were reorganized into 15 agencies."; iii) "The seven military area commands were regrouped into five theater commands."; iv) "The percentage of land forces' personnel among the entire PLA was cut to less than half for the first time."; v) "The new Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force were established."; vi) The number of PLA officers was...reduced by 30 percent, and hundreds of generals switched posts."; vii) “China's first domestically built aircraft carrier was launched.”; viii) “New transport aircraft and stealth jets were commissioned.”; and ix) “The latest missiles were unveiled.” 
 
The Xinhua article also disclosed that Kong Jun, Commander of the PLA Navy Marine Corps that was reinstated in 1980 had said the Marine Corps will conduct more exercises with foreign counterparts to enhance proficiency. 
It disclosed too that since the 18th Party Congress in 2012, more than 100 PLA officers at or above the corps-level, including two former CMC vice chairmen, have been investigated and punished. Suggesting endorsement of Xi Jinping's efforts by the 'princelings', it quoted He Xiaoming, daughter of the late Marshal He Long, who commanded the Nanchang Uprising, as saying "In just a few years, the PLA has been deeply transformed."






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