President Xi Jinping of China addressed delegates from the People's Liberation Army and People's Armed Police Force on Saturday, underscoring the necessity of political loyalty and sustained anti-corruption efforts within the military.
These remarks were delivered during the nation's annual "two sessions" parliamentary meetings and follow recent high-profile dismissals of military personnel and the announcement of China's defense budget.
Directives on Loyalty and Corruption
During a plenary meeting with military delegates, President Xi Jinping emphasized that there must be "no room in the military for those who harbor disloyalty toward the party, nor any place for corrupt officials to hide." He reiterated that the fight against corruption must be "resolutely pushed forward," ensuring no individual within the military harbors disloyalty to the ruling Communist Party.
These statements are part of an anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi over a decade ago, which has recently focused on the military.
This crackdown has been described as the nation's most significant military purge in approximately half a century.
Recent Personnel Changes
In the period leading up to and during the annual parliamentary sessions, several military officials have been removed from their posts. These actions include:
- The removal of a top general last month.
- The National People’s Congress dismissing nine military officers, with two among them being members of the Central Military Commission.
- The removal of three generals from China’s top political advisory body this week.
These personnel adjustments are occurring as part of broader initiatives to reform and modernize the armed forces.
Defense Budget Announcement
Alongside these developments, Chinese leaders announced a 7% increase in the national defense budget for the current year. The total budget amounts to approximately 1.9 trillion yuan, or about $270 billion. This figure marks a slight reduction in the rate of increase compared to the past three years, which saw an average annual rise of roughly 7.2%.