PLA targets on building up defense might

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-02 09:29

Chinese soldiers clean steps at Kax People's Square in Kax of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on August 1, 2009, the day marking the 82nd anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). [Xinhua]

According to a recruitment plan of the PLA this summer, about 120,000 college graduates who finished four-year studies will be enlisted to fulfill their two-year military services at the end of the year.

"The move will significantly change the structure of the PLA's enlisted personnel which used to be consisted of poorly educated farmers at the early days of the country's foundation," Gong said.

"What more important is it will greatly enhance the common citizens' awareness of the responsibility to serve the country as the college education is no longer enjoyed by the few in China," he said.

"The college graduates with the experience of two-year military service also improves the military reserves for the country," Gong added.

The PLA was founded by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1927 when China was actually scrambled in tangled fights by warlords which taught the CPC leaders that the supreme command of military forces should not be controlled by officers.

After more than 80 years of development, the PLA has maintained its most fundamental character as a military force under absolute control of the Party.

The most famous example of the CPC's control over the PLA is perhaps Chairman Mao Zedong who once said that "our principle is the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party".

"Although the Party's absolute control over military forces is not just the same as civilian control of the military theory, both the concepts have the same intention to ensure that a nation's military forces should serve the general public rather than some military clique," Gong said.

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