The military said all units of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) supported the communist party leadership’s efforts to achieve its dream of “building a strong army”, Hong Kong- based South China Morning Post quoted the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, as reporting today in a commentary.
It had combined pledges from the heads of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s four headquarters, seven key land troops’ military area commands, air force, navy, the strategic missile force, paramilitary police, military academies and grass-roots officers expressing support for the troop cut.
In his speech on Friday at the massive military parade held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory against Japan during WW-II, Xi said the 2.3 million-strong PLA would cut its force by three lakhs. Despite the cut, the PLA would still remain the world’s largest standing army.
While the move comes at a time when Chinese economy faced slowdown - which is beginning to have negative effect on the job market, it also caused consternation among the public as much of PLA recruitment comes from rural areas where the military is seen as a major employment generator. As it modernised with high-tech weaponry, the PLA also looked to recruit more graduates.
All seven key PLA military commands, the main <g data-gr-id="29">bases</g> of the land forces are believed to be targets of the cuts in personnel, the Post report said. The reduction in personnel would be centred on phasing out outdated equipment, simplifying administrative and <g data-gr-id="31">non</g>- combat roles and “adjusting and improving military structure”, defence ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said, adding it would be expected to be completed by late 2017.
Ex-VP attends parade, Fury in Taiwan
The attendance of a former Taiwan vice president at Beijing’s massive military parade sparked waves of outrage on the island on Friday, with some politicians angrily calling him a “traitor”. Lien Chan, who was also previously premier and chairman of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, was accompanied by his wife and 10 other politicians to yesterday’s event in Tiananmen Square marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II, defying President Ma Ying-jeou’s advice to stay away. Dozens of slogan-chanting protestors clashed with police as Lien arrived back at Taipei airport at midnight after attending the event.