3rd Ld-Writethru-China Headlines: China's peace commitment unchanged after military reshuffle

China's plan to reorganize its military administration structure and command system will not affect the country's defense policy, which is "defensive in nature," a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

Yang Yujun told a press conference that "Chinese armed forces will always be a staunch force for world peace and regional stability," after President Xi Jinping announced the reshuffle at a meeting concluded on Thursday, which would reinforce the "centralized and unified" leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over the armed forces.

Xi told the meeting, which was attended by more than 200 high-ranking military officers and officials, that the current regional military commands will be regrouped into new battle zone commands under the CMC.

In September, Xi announced a cut of 300,000 troops, which "again demonstrated China's commitment to peaceful development," said Yang when asked if the overhaul meant an adjustment to national defense policy.

He said the reform was intended to "make breakthroughs in military administration and joint operational command, optimize the military structure, enhance policy systems and civilian-military integration, and build a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win informationized wars."

The spokesman cited profound and complicated changes in the international situation and the task to build a strong army to better fulfill its missions as reasons for the reform.

"It will focus on removing institutional and structural barriers that had constrained military development to boost modernization of the military and cultivate the fighting capacity of troops," he said.

The reorganization will help build a strong military force that suits China's international status, fits its national security interests and provides a guarantee for the "Chinese dream" of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

NEW LEADERSHIP MECHANISM

Yang said the CMC will have multiple departments, focusing on its core functions of supervision and coordination, adding that a large number of departments and staff will be cut and units affiliated to it will be reduced substantially.

The reform will establish a "CMC - battle zone commands - troops" command system and an administration system that runs from the CMC through various services to the troops.

Zhao Xiaozhuo of the PLA Academy of Military Science said decision-making in modern warfare must be "fast and decisive" so as to "grasp fleeting opportunities," which calls for separating military development from the command system.

Zhao said the "CMC - battle zone commands - troops" command system will help the Party and the CMC centralize the leadership, further consolidating the basic principle that "the CPC has absolute leadership of the armed forces."

One of the reform objectives is to form a new leadership body for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) army, the ground troops.

Yang said the PLAA leadership was previously shared by four general headquarters, including those responsible for staff, politics, logistics and armaments.

A new leadership mechanism will strengthen the top-level design of the ground forces, raise management efficiency and step up modernization of the army, he said.

The fact that the PLAA lacks a unified command center is a sign that China's military still holds the "army prevails" thought, which does not fit increasingly complicated warfare demands, said Lou Yaoliang, a military expert.

The old system has gradually fallen out of sync with changing situations, causing fragmentation, redundancy and divided policies, said Yin Zhuo, director of the Expert Consultation Committee of the PLA Navy.

Reorganizing the four general headquarters into various military departments under the CMC will ensure efficient military order, Yin said.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION

Yang said the reform also stresses the importance of regulating power within the military, demanding a strict system to supervise the use of power.

A new discipline inspection commission will be established within the CMC, and disciplinary inspectors will be sent to CMC departments and battle zone commands, according to the reform plan.

The CMC will have an audit office and a political and legal affairs commission. The independent and fair use of judicial power by military courts and procuratorates will be ensured through adjustments to the military judicial system.

Yang said it is important to promote the integrated development of military and civilian sectors as well as economy and defense.

The reform also stresses veteran management and resettlement. Veterans are valuable to the Party and country, he added, as they have completed strict training and important tasks, and they will be granted special job placement policies upon transfer or retirement.

Yang said the termination of all paid services in the military is "an important decision" by the CPC Central Committee, the CMC and Chairman Xi to "purify the air" and ensure the PLA's quality. Endi