On Wednesday, the big man Delivering the opening address for a training session at the PLA National Defense University in Beijing on November 27, Chinese President and CMC Chairman Xi Jinping called for a new type of military talent, possessed of both unimpeachable moral rectitude and impeccable professional ability. To achieve this, he said, it was necessary to have a new style of military education. He suggested some improvements to the existing system including: (i) Updating the curriculum to be in line with the latest military developments; (ii) Strengthening specialized training; (iii) Improving combat effectiveness; (iv) Building a high-level and ideologically reliable teaching staff; (v) Supporting the construction of more military colleges; and (vi) Upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the military.

(Comment: Xi Jinping's speech suggests the PLA academic institutions are being geared up to teach recruits how to fight a real war.)