China's Xi asks military to uphold CPC's leadership

BEIJING, Nov. 6 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on the military to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and advocated strengthened Party building in the military.

Loyalty to the CPC is "the soul and lifeblood" of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), and the primary task to enhance Party building in the military is to ensure the CPC's absolute leadership, Xi said.

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission(CMC), said Party building is the "core issue" in the development of the Chinese military.

The President called for efforts to arm military officers with Party theories and required them to follow the command of the CPC Central Committee and CMC "at any time and under any circumstances."

Party committees should play a leading role and Party members should set an example in promoting Party building in the military and strengthening the military's combat effectiveness, he said.

Xi asked Party members in the military to relay "criticism and self-criticism," consolidate Party unity, enforce Party discipline, fight against corruption, and clean up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.

"Criticism and self-criticism" is part of the national "mass line" education campaign, which was launched by the CPC in June to boost ties between CPC officials, members and the public.

In "criticism and self-criticism" sessions, Party officials examine their own shortcomings as well as those of their colleagues at what are known as "democratic meetings."

Xi said he believes it is important for the military to both carry on its fine traditions and embrace innovation regarding Party building as China's social conditions and the composition of Party members have undergone profound changes.

He called for efforts to bring forth innovation in Party building and enhance Party committees' creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness in the military.