China’s paramount leader Xi Jinping delivered a stern yet inspiring speech on Monday, inaugurating a specialized training course for top military personnel at Beijing’s National Defense University.
The April 8 ceremony marked the start of an intensive program designed to sharpen the ideological edge of senior officers. Xi Jinping, in his triple roles as CPC chief, state president, and military commission head, stressed the imperative of ideological overhaul.
Central to his message was the adoption of his signature thought system as the compass for all military endeavors. He called for comprehensive application of his ideas on military strengthening in the new era, alongside intensified political education to fortify cadres’ revolutionary mettle.
‘Our Party and army are bound by ideals and convictions,’ Xi affirmed. Aspiring members must harbor unshakeable Marxist faith and pledge fidelity to the Party’s cause, structure, and goals.
Xi painted the CPC as a selfless Marxist force championing the people’s core interests. He categorically rejected personal enrichment or corruption as antithetical to the Party’s essence, urging military leaders to uphold the people’s army’s noble traditions.
Looking ahead to the military’s centennial milestone, Xi advocated embracing it with a revitalized political outlook. This address comes as part of broader efforts to professionalize and purify the PLA, enhancing its readiness for 21st-century challenges.
Observers note the speech’s timing aligns with Xi’s anti-corruption drive within the ranks, signaling zero tolerance for deviance. The training initiative promises to instill discipline and doctrine, fortifying China’s defense posture under unified command.
