Senior official calls for further military reform

Senior Chinese military official Fan Changlong has called for deepening reform and better implementing tasks within the army and armed police to streamline and strengthen the armed forces.

Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) [File Photo: npc.gov.cn]

Fan, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during his latest inspection tour to Shanghai and Hubei and Jiangsu provinces. He visited troops and educational institutes as well as construction sites to inspect preparations for the seventh Military World Games scheduled for 2019.

The country is pushing forward reform on streamlining military size and organization. Military authorities should improve management and assist senior staff with adapting to the changes while redeploying and resettling involved personnel, Fan said.

He stressed that all military departments must adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and resolutely resist incorrect thought, words and views to strengthen military purity and stability.

The pernicious influence of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, former corrupt senior CMC officials, should be purged, said Fan.

Military authorities should improve the armed forces' combat abilities by increasing training and readiness, he said.

He also asked the army and the armed police to prepare for possible natural disasters and terrorist activities, and safeguard social stability.