Chinese President Xi Jinping asks army to prepare for combat
Chinese President Xi Jinping asked 84 newly-formed units of People's Liberation Army to be prepared for combat and prioritize building "new-type" fighting capabilities in electronic, information, and space warfare. Xi, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, spoke to the new commanders and asked them to improve their joint operation capabilities and technology level. PLA is the world's largest army with about 2,333,000 personnel.
People's Liberation Army
The armed forces of China'>Communist Party of China (CPC) and People's Republic of China are known as the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). PLA comprises five professional service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and the Strategic Support Force.
New units must prepare for combat and study wars: Jinping
President Xi Jinping told the new forces to conduct more combat exercises and give more priority to building "new-type" fighting capabilities. According to PLA terminology, "new-type" fighting capabilities refer to engaging in electronic, information and space operations.
Flexing military might over territorial disputes
Jinping's call to build "new-type" fighting capabilities came as China prepares to counter the US deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor missiles in South Korea. THAAD radars are so powerful they could see through most China, including its missile development program. Expanding strategic influence, China is also flexing its "military might" in the neighborhood over territorial disputes with countries like India.
Chinese military still engaged in cutting its troops
The 84 new PLA units are at combined corps level - their commanders have been or will be promoted to a rank of either Major General in Ground Force, Air Force, and Rocket Force or Rear Admiral in the Navy. These units were likely created through regrouping of existing personnel rather than recruiting new ones as Chinese military is engaged in cutting its troops.
PLA's structural shake-up has taken effect
The emergence of the new units is the latest move that indicates a major structural shake-up the PLA is undergoing. In Dec'16, at a CMC conference, President Xi ordered the structure of military be adjusted and optimized; he called for smaller yet capable and flexible military. The unprecedented restructuring reform reportedly began in Nov'15, when the CMC unveiled a blueprint for PLA's development.
A leaner, efficient military capable of winning modern wars
Central Military Commission pledged to establish a leaner yet efficient military to reduce non-combatant personnel/departments and transform PLA into "a mightier force capable of winning modern wars." Since then, PLA set up Ground Force headquarters, founded Strategic Support Force for electronic, information and space operations, and replaced Second Artillery Corps with Rocket Force. It dismantled four top departments - staff, logistics, politics, and armaments.
