STREAMLINING, PERIPHERAL REFORMS
China will also cut its troops by 300,000. Administrative and non-combat personnel in the military will be downsized. The proportion and structure of forces among different services will be streamlined to suit new security needs and operations.
Xi urged the military to "stand at strategic commanding heights" in future competitions and promote new ideas to drive the army's fighting capability, calling for more to be done in developing national defense science and technology, including frontier research in both major technology and new concepts.
Military personnel management should be streamlined in adherence with the CPC's leadership so that the military's human resources can help improve the army's capability in combat, Xi said. Reforms will improve in the management of all personnel, as well as medical care, insurance, housing and payments for servicemen.
The management style should fit the professional traits of military members and the sense of honor, pride and morale, Xi stressed.
Xi said it is important to promote the integrated development of both the military and non-military sectors, and of the economy and defense.
To this end, he required a management and operation system that integrates state leadership, coordination between the military and non-military sectors, as well as the market rules.
He called for strengthening the militia and reserve forces and national-level efforts to enhance management of and security to veterans.
Xi also noted the transfer or retirement of military personnel, saying special policies for arranging jobs should be given to them.
The military must resolutely terminate all paid services, Xi ordered.
Xi highlighted a timeline for achieving concrete results in the reform, saying breakthroughs in overhauling the leadership and joint command system must be made by 2020.
To finish the task, Xi said high-ranking military officers must take the lead to support the reform and defend the authority of the central leadership. Common soldiers should be guided to embrace the reform.
