China military tells officers to hold their tongues on reform concerns

[Zaneesh852]

BEIJING (Reuters) - High-ranking officers in the Chinese army must hold their tongues about concerns over military reform and lead from the front to ensure the rank and file are on board, the People's Liberation Army said on Monday.

President Xi Jinping unveiled a broad-brush outline of the reforms last month, seeking further modernization of the command structure of the world's largest armed forces, including job losses, to better enable it to win a modern war.

Xi is determined to modernize at the same time as China becomes more assertive in its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas. China's navy is investing in submarines and aircraft carriers, while the air force is developing stealth fighters.

The reforms, kicked of in September with Xi's announcement he would cut service personnel by 300,000, have been controversial.

The military's newspaper has published a series of commentaries warning of opposition to the reforms and worries about lost jobs.

In a front-page commentary in the People's Liberation Army Daily, the military's political department, in charge of ideology and ensuring loyalty to the ruling Communist Party, said the success or failure of reform depended on top officers "leading from the front and setting a fine example".

"It is forbidden to speak nonsense, make irresponsible comments, have your own points of view, act as you see fit or feign compliance," it said, in a piece also carried in the party's official People's Daily.

Special attention must be paid to what ordinary soldiers think and sensitive subjects "effectively resolved", it added.

"(You) must organize and manage well public opinion, especially on the Internet, and fight an active battle to create a good atmosphere for promoting reform," the piece said.

Those in the military who "resolutely support reform and dare to throw themselves into reform" should be promoted, it added.

The commentary reiterated the party's absolute leadership over the military and reminded officers to oppose "liberalism", wording the army normally uses to refer to those who wish to challenge the party's control.

Xi's reforms include establishing a joint operational command structure by 2020 and rejigging existing military regions, as well as cutting troop numbers.

The military commentary said that the reforms were unprecedented in their scope and for the interest groups they touch upon.



"Deepening military reform is a big test that cannot be avoided, and we have begun our assault and entered deep waters," it added.
China military tells officers to hold their tongues on reform concerns By Reuters

 

[oproh]

Xi is a great leader, he knows when to adapt to changes. Chinese military will become more efficient thanks to the reforms being implemented.

 

[Politico]

well said. if only most world leaders could command their armies like chinese then strong and reliable armies would exist in those countries

 

[Makarena]

The great thing about Chinese leadership since Deng Xiaoping is their determination to do what is necessary no matter what the cost or how bitter it is. When corruption widespread among the government and party, what did the government and the party do? They launched the biggest crackdown on corruption the modern China or maybe a modern nation ever know. When the pollution is severe, China chose to invest big time in clean energy, produced tougher regulation. I will not be surprised if in ten years China will succeed in cleaning its environment. China is like a patient that has cancer on his limb, and has no hesitation to chop off the limb if it mean to survive. Most people know a bitter pill is often the best medicine, but most lack the commitment to take it.