The leadership of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the Communist Party of China (CPC), vows to boost the PLA's fighting power while "safeguarding Xi Jinping's core status."

Apart from being China's president, Xi is also general secretary of the CPC and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) that controls the PLA. The PLA's primary mission is to defend the CPC and its close to 90 million members. Protection of the Chinese homeland and Chinese citizens are the secondary roles of the PLA.

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The keys to victory on the battlefield will be implementing Xi's decisions and instructions in pushing forward military building, reform and combat preparedness, and embracing the 19th CPC National Congress with military achievements, said General Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the CMC.

"The troops must resolutely safeguard the core and follow the leadership of the CPC," said Gen. Fan.

Another vice chairman of the CMC, General Xu Qiliang of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), said the PLA's progress in building a world-class military is due to Xi's leadership.

Gen. Xu called for stronger communist indoctrination in the PLA "to ensure the high unity and purity of the military." He noted the PLA adding must make "good preparations to deal with various risks to fulfill their missions."

Both general officers urged PLA officers to eliminate the impact of Guo Boxiong (a retired general sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery) and Xu Caihou (a former CMC vice chairman who was charged with corruption but who died in 2015 while under investigation).

General Ma Xiaotian, commander-in-chief of the PLAAF, emphasized integrating aviation and space power as well as strike and defense capabilities, a target Xi has set for the PLAAF.

General Wei Fenghe, commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, said Xi's instructions are important guidelines for building a world-class strategic force to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The CMC pledged to unite closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core. Defense Minister Chang Wanquan said efforts will be made to enhance the education of national defense and encourage integrated military-civilian development.

Zhang Yang, head of the CMC Political Work Department, said the PLA must promote "confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics," raised by Xi last year.

CMC directs and assumes unified command of the PLA. It controls the General Staff Department; the Political Work Department; the Logistical Support Department and the Equipment Development Department.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army, PLA, Communist Party of China, CPC, Xi Jinping, Central Military Commission, General Fan Changlong