Beijing has rolled out a series of amendments to its regulations on the People’s Liberation Army, putting a stronger focus on the importance of war readiness and overseas missions.
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Set to take effect in April, the amendments emphasised that “winning battles should be the military’s top responsibility” and directed the PLA to establish a “fundamental focus on preparation and readiness for combat,” according to state news agency Xinhua.
In a report last Friday, Xinhua said the revised regulations would “further enhance the rule of law within the military, cultivate a solid force that is loyal to the party, capable of fighting effectively and maintains a strong sense of discipline and integrity”.
The change is part of Beijing’s efforts to refine and enhance its legal framework and regulations amid intensifying geopolitical tensions with the United States and in the South China Sea.
It also echoed the goals of President Xi Jinping, who also chairs the Central Military Commission. He has said the PLA must modernise by 2035 and become a top-ranked military by 2050.
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More details of the three revised regulations were released this week after they were signed by Xi. They covered wide-ranging areas including the PLA’s internal affairs, discipline and military formations.