Chinese military gives thumbs up to Xi, Doklam-standoff's resolution
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has given the thumbs up to the "safely resolved" 73-day-long Doklam standoff with Indian troops. The statement, made by a top PLA official at the ongoing Communist Party Congress (CPC), signals President Xi Jinping's increasing clout. Xi heads the Communist Party and is chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), which commands the 2.3 million-strong PLA.
PLA says standoff's resolution highlights importance of dialogue mechanisms
The PLA said the Doklam standoff demonstrated how the Chinese military uses dialogue mechanisms with different countries to resolve issues. "My colleagues in the military and other ministries worked very closely and held negotiations with the Indian side many times," it said. "All of this contributed a lot to the peaceful resolution of China-India cross-border dispute," it added.
PLA statement a crucial endorsement of Xi's leadership
The PLA's statement acknowledging the Doklam standoff's peaceful resolution is seen as an expression of support for President Xi, who is set to be picked for a second five-year term at the CPC. In his address to the CPC, Xi had hailed the PLA and vowed to turn it into a world-class force. The PLA endorsed Xi's address, calling it "profound and fundamental."
