China's plan to reorganize its military administration structure and command system will not affect the country's defense policy, which is "defensive in nature," a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.
Yang Yujun told a press conference that "Chinese armed forces will always be a staunch force for world peace and regional stability," after President Xi Jinping announced the reshuffle at a meeting concluded on Thursday, which would reinforce the "centralized and unified" leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over the armed forces.
Xi told the meeting, which was attended by more than 200 high-ranking military officers and officials, that the current regional military commands will be regrouped into new battle zone commands under the CMC.
In September, Xi announced a cut of 300,000 troops, which "again demonstrated China's commitment to peaceful development," said Yang when asked if the overhaul meant an adjustment to national defense policy.
He said the reform was intended to "make breakthroughs in military administration and joint operational command, optimize the military structure, enhance policy systems and civilian-military integration, and build a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win informationized wars."
The spokesman cited profound and complicated changes in the international situation and the task to build a strong army to better fulfill its missions as reasons for the reform.
"It will focus on removing institutional and structural barriers that had constrained military development to boost modernization of the military and cultivate the fighting capacity of troops," he said.
The reorganization will help build a strong military force that suits China's international status, fits its national security interests and provides a guarantee for the "Chinese dream" of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.
NEW LEADERSHIP MECHANISM
Yang said the CMC will have multiple departments, focusing on its core functions of supervision and coordination, adding that a large number of departments and staff will be cut and units affiliated to it will be reduced substantially.
The reform will establish a "CMC - battle zone commands - troops" command system and an administration system that runs from the CMC through various services to the troops.
