Chinese President Xi Jinping has awarded merit citations to a ship-borne pilot unit of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and a military cyber expert, in moves seen as underlining Beijing’s defence priorities.
Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, signed an order of commendation on Tuesday to present the PLA Navy pilot unit, Troop 92950, with a first-class merit citation, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The order also included a third-class merit citation for defence science and technology, presented to Liu Aijun, former president of a military academy specialising in telecommunications under the Army Engineering University of the PLA.
The reasons for the awards have not been made public.
Navy pilot Zhang Min, the unit chief of staff for Troop 92950, was among this year’s recipients of the China Youth May Fourth Medal – considered a top honour for Chinese aged under 40.
He became an aircraft carrier fighter pilot in 2015 and has taken part in missions aboard both the PLA Navy’s active carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, according to WeChat posts by Zhang’s university alumni association and the PLA’s news and communication centre.
An order of commendation for military units and individuals is signed every year by the CMC chairman in recognition of their achievements.
Last year, first-class merit citations went to a nuclear submarine unit overseeing the South China Sea and an office of the CMC’s equipment development department.
This year’s awards come as China builds up its naval capabilities amid heightened regional tensions. Its third and most advanced aircraft carrier – the Fujian – began sea trials in May, and a version of its new fifth-generation fighter jet with ship-borne potential is reportedly ready for service.
The FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighter, with a variant officially revealed earlier this month as the “J-31B”, is expected to complement the J-20, China’s most advanced stealth fighter.
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China says Fujian carrier is world’s largest conventionally powered warship
China says Fujian carrier is world’s largest conventionally powered warship
China says the Fujian, its first domestically designed carrier, is the world’s largest conventionally powered warship. It is also the first Chinese carrier to be equipped with electromagnetic catapults, which means it will be able to fit more aircraft and launch them more quickly than the PLA’s two existing carriers.
Chinese naval and air capabilities are seen as crucial to tackling any conflict in the Taiwan Strait separating mainland China from the self-governed island of Taiwan, or around disputed islands in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels have clashed repeatedly over the past year.
China is also focusing more on cybersecurity and information systems as they become a key part of warfare, such as in Ukraine, with Xi ordering the PLA to be well-prepared for information-focused wars.
Inaugurating a new PLA information support force earlier this year, Xi called for the building of a “network information system” suited to modern warfare and for improved joint operations capabilities.
