Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for intensified political rectification within the military to ensure ideological purity, addressing senior officers at a key training session in Beijing this week. The directive comes as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) prepares to mark its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Speaking at the National Defense University on April 9, 2026, the Central Military Commission chairman emphasized maintaining absolute Party leadership over armed forces. "Being part of the Party and the military means having firm faith in Marxism and being loyal to the Party," Xi told attendees of the high-level training program.
The president specifically instructed military leaders to lead by example in combating corruption and personal gain, stating such practices "are completely incompatible with the Party's nature and purpose." He urged restoration of revolutionary traditions while warning against bureaucratic tendencies among officers.
With three years remaining until the PLA centennial, Xi highlighted the need for strict legal compliance across all ranks: "Everyone should be equal before laws and regulations – there are no special cases in their observance and no exceptions in enforcement."
CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin presided over the opening ceremony of the training session, which forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military discipline under Xi's leadership.
