Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, inspects PLA units in Guangdong province on Monday. Xi ordered the PLA to intensify its combat awareness in order to sustain military readiness. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s Communist Party Chief Acts to Bolster Military -- New York Times
GUANGZHOU, China — Xi Jinping, the new Communist Party chief and civilian commander of the Chinese military, is moving quickly to make strengthening the country’s armed forces a centerpiece of what he calls the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation.
The nationalist message of building up the People’s Liberation Army has been broadcast loudly in the aftermath of Mr. Xi’s recent visit to south China. The trip, which began Dec. 7, was Mr. Xi’s first outside Beijing as party chief and is now being examined for his policy priorities. This week, the state news media gave prominent coverage to Mr. Xi’s visit with troops of the Guangzhou military region, including a trip aboard the Haikou, a destroyer that belongs to the fleet patrolling disputed waters in the South China Sea.
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Update #1: Xi’s Seduction of the Military -- Wall Street Journal
Update #2: China’s New Party Head Solidifies Ties With Military on Guangdong Visit -- The Epoch Times
My Comment: What is most disconcerting to me is that China`s new leader is openly talking about the need for the Chinese military to be ready for "real military combat". More here on this topic.