The South China Morning Post quoting the PLA Daily reported (April 29) that the Rule for

servicemen committees has been amended in line with ‘Xi Jinping Thought’. It quoted experts

saying this is a revival of grass roots democracy and attempt to activate the old ‘red genes’ of

the Red Army. The amended regulation for servicemen committees was approved by the

Central Military Commission (CMC) and will take effect from May 1. It provides that lower- ranked officers in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will soon have more scope to supervise senior brass, under new rules that experts say are aimed at better securing the Chinese military’s loyalty to President Xi Jinping. The CMC General Office maintained that the amendment aims to bring the rules in line with “Xi Jinping Thought”.