Beijing: Xi Jinping has emphasised the need for strict political loyalty within China’s armed forces and called for intensifying the fight against corruption as part of an ongoing purge in the military establishment.
The Chinese President made the remarks during a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force while the country was holding its annual “two sessions” meetings.
According to reports published by the official news agency Xinhua News Agency, Xi stressed that there must be absolute loyalty to the ruling Communist Party of China within the military ranks.
“There must be no one in the military who harbours disloyalty to the Party,” he said while addressing the gathering.
Remarks during China’s “two sessions”
Xi’s comments came during the annual “two sessions” — the simultaneous meetings of China’s top legislative and advisory bodies.
These include the National People’s Congress, the country’s highest legislative authority, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the main political advisory body.
The sessions are considered a key political event in China where national policies, economic plans and governance priorities are discussed and approved.
During the meetings, senior leaders typically outline the country’s policy direction and major strategic priorities for the coming year.
Continued focus on anti-corruption campaign
Xi reiterated that the fight against corruption within the military must continue without compromise.
“There must be no hiding place for corrupt individuals,” he said, adding that the anti-corruption campaign should be pushed forward resolutely.
China’s anti-corruption drive was launched shortly after Xi assumed power more than a decade ago and has since become a central feature of his governance strategy.
Over the years, the campaign has led to investigations, disciplinary actions and removals of thousands of officials across the government, the military and state-owned enterprises.
In recent years, the focus has increasingly shifted towards the military establishment.
Purge within the armed forces
The anti-corruption campaign has led to the removal of several senior military officers.
Last month, one of China’s top generals was removed from his position, highlighting the widening scope of the crackdown within the armed forces.
Analysts believe the purge reflects the leadership’s intention to strengthen discipline and accountability within the military as China undertakes major defence reforms.
The campaign is also viewed as part of broader efforts to modernise the military and ensure that it operates with greater efficiency and transparency.
Dismissal of military officials
Recent developments indicate that the purge has intensified in recent months.
The National People’s Congress last week dismissed nine military officers from their positions.
Among them were two officials serving under the Central Military Commission, the body that oversees China’s armed forces and serves as the highest military authority in the country.
Other dismissed officers reportedly belonged to different branches of the military, including the army, navy, air force and rocket force.
Additionally, three generals were removed from China’s top political advisory body earlier this week.
The dismissals signal the government’s determination to enforce discipline and eliminate corruption across all levels of the military hierarchy.
Analysts’ view on Xi’s campaign
Political analysts note that Xi’s anti-corruption drive has played a significant role in reshaping China’s political and military landscape.
Some experts believe the campaign has helped strengthen governance by targeting corruption and misuse of power.
However, others argue that it also enables the leadership to consolidate authority and remove potential rivals within the system.
Xi is currently in his 14th year in power and remains one of the most influential leaders in modern Chinese politics.
Observers say the continued focus on loyalty within the military reflects the importance the leadership places on maintaining political control over the armed forces.
Defence spending growth announced
During the ongoing “two sessions” meetings, Chinese leaders also announced an increase in the country’s defence budget.
The government proposed a defence budget growth of around 7 per cent for the current year.
This would bring the total military spending to approximately 1.9 trillion yuan, equivalent to about USD 270 billion.
Although the increase is slightly lower than the average annual rise of about 7.2 per cent recorded over the past three years, it still represents a significant expansion in defence expenditure.
China’s growing defence budget is often linked to its efforts to modernise the military and strengthen its strategic capabilities.
Continued reforms in the armed forces
In recent years, China has been undertaking extensive reforms aimed at transforming the People’s Liberation Army into a more modern and technologically advanced force.
These reforms include restructuring command systems, improving joint operations among different military branches and investing in advanced defence technologies.
Officials say that discipline, loyalty and accountability remain essential for the success of these reforms.
Xi’s latest remarks therefore underscore the leadership’s determination to ensure that the armed forces remain firmly aligned with the Communist Party’s political authority.
The anti-corruption campaign within the military is expected to continue as China seeks to strengthen both governance and operational efficiency in its defence establishment.