Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to hone its combat skills, remain on high alert and be ready to "act at any second."
Jinping's instruction to the military comes at a time when China has amended its defence law expanding the powers of the Central Military Commission (CMC) which is headed by the Chinese president.
According to the official media of China, Xi signed the order for 2021 that prioritizes the training of the PLA and the People's Armed Police Forces (PLAF). The Chinese president heads the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and apart from that he also leads the Central Military Commission (CMC).
The newly amended law instructs the armed forces to follow XI Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for New Era as guiding principle and champion the Xi Jinping Thought to strengthen the Military and military strategies in the new era.
Xi Jinping had issued the first such order while he was speaking to a massive training and commencement ceremony at a shooting range in north China in January 2018.
The President said that the PLA must be ready to act at any second while the armed forces were starting the year's military training and exercise on Monday, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.
"The PLA must increase the integration of new equipment, new forces and new combat realms into training and combat systems," the Chinese president was quoted as saying in the report.
From the time he became commander-in-chief in 2012, Xi has been stressing the importance of combat readiness and joint operations to the forces.
The National Defence Law gives the Central Military Commission (CMC) greater power to mobilize resources in the national interest and it has come into effect from January 1, 2021.
readiness and joint operations to the forces.
The National Defence Law gives the Central Military Commission (CMC) greater power to mobilize resources in the national interest and it has come into effect from January 1, 2021.
