“Preparing for military combat at sea, defending maritime rights and interests, and developing the maritime economy must be integrated,” he said.
CCTV reported that Xi also heard briefings on improving maritime situation awareness, integrating the management and utilization of space resources, and utilizing unmanned combat forces.
Established in 2016 as part of the Xi Jinping government's major military reforms, the SSF is tasked with integrating “strategic” functions and capabilities across the People's Liberation Army, including everything from space to psychological warfare.
Before the overhaul, each military branch – ground, navy, and air force – had its own support force.
China pledges legal reforms to promote patriotism and public defense assistance
China pledges legal reforms to promote patriotism and public defense assistance
He told lawmakers that the military should “boldly innovate and explore new types of combat force models and fully unlock and develop new, high-quality combat forces.”
To create the “autonomous, self-reliant, open and dynamic innovation environment” necessary for capability building, the military will accelerate the development of new combat capabilities, deepen system reform of the defense industry, and improve agile response. It said it would promote rapid transformation of cutting-edge technologies and build innovative supply chains that are “compatible with the development of emerging sectors.”
“You must take on that mission, spearhead reform and innovation, and comprehensively improve strategic capabilities in emerging areas,” he told lawmakers.
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Mainland China begins military exercises near Taiwan as a 'stern warning to separatist forces'
Mainland China begins military exercises near Taiwan as a 'stern warning to separatist forces'
Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Investigation Initiative, said the comments pointed to the People's Liberation Army's joint force buildup plan.
“The emphasis on the introduction of these emerging technologies in the military is done with joint operations in mind,” Hu said.
In recent years, President Xi, with the support of the PLA Strategic Support Force, has called for improving the “joint” nature of the PLA as a whole, including improving coordination between all fields and all areas, such as space, cyber, and electronic warfare. Ta.
The military's mouthpiece, the People's Liberation Army Daily, said in a report on Friday that establishing strategic capabilities in “emerging fields” such as space, cyberspace and artificial intelligence needs to be based on coordinated planning and “breakthroughs in key areas.” He said there is.
Hu said that Xi's special mention of “maritime military struggle” shows that “the seas, including the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, are the People's Liberation Army's main direction of struggle.”
According to the meeting's official statement, President Xi did not mention the People's Liberation Army's ongoing anti-corruption efforts. But other PLA leaders have vowed to crack down on corruption in previous parliaments.
Additionally, nine generals, including the top commander of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, were expelled from Congress in December, with the National People's Congress later saying they were suspected of “violating discipline and the law” (a euphemism for corruption). did.
