CNR:
Can you give us more information of the progress made since the new joint battle command agencies were established more than one year ago?
Zhou Shangping:
I will take your question. According to the decisions and instructions of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and President Xi Jinping, and as per the requirement to establish joint battle command agencies that are absolutely loyal, resourceful in fighting, efficient in commanding and courageous and capable of winning wars, and a battle command system that applies in both peacetime and wartime, operates as a normality, has a clear focus and works efficiently, the PLA has created a two-tier "the CMC-theatre commands" joint battle command center and a three-tier "the CMC-theatre commands-troops" battle command system. It has also improved supporting rules and regulations as well as operational mechanisms.
Over the past more than one year, by fully carrying out the military strategic guideline for the new period, the two-tier command center have focused on studying its core function of fighting and commanding battles, significantly enhanced its joint battle command capability, grasped real-time information about border, and coastal and air defense, and efficiently coped with all kinds of emergencies, hence playing its due role in maintaining China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and the stability of the overall strategic situation.
Thanks.
China News Service:
We've noticed that when geological disasters such as earthquakes or landslides happen in China, PLA soldiers will always rush to the affected areas for emergency services. My question is, over the past 90 years, what has the PLA achieved through its political work to ensure that the army can win the popularity and support of the general public?
Zhang Chengwen:
Let me answer your question. Since the establishment of the PLA, we have laid great emphasis on ideological and political work, which has played significant roles in making the army grow from small to large, from weakness to strength and achieved victory after victory.
Germinated in the Great Revolutionary period of 1921 to 1927, the political work of the PLA was established in 1927 and laid its foundation in 1929 during the Gutian Meeting. During the long-term revolution, construction and reform process, it has been enriched and developed into a set of fine traditions, including the cardinal principle and system of "the Party commands the gun," the fundamental purpose of "serving the people wholeheartedly," the ideological line of "seeking truth from facts," the working style of the mass line, the practice of arming officers and soldiers with scientific theory, offering services to guarantee the smooth operation of the central task of the Party and the army, selecting and appointing cadres in a fair and candid way, adhering to the unity between officers and soldiers, promoting democracy, implementing strict disciplines consciously, making arduous efforts and selfless devotion in our work, and insisting on Party members taking the lead and so on.
All these fine traditions, being the fundamental rules and content of the political work of the PLA, are cast with the blood and lives of our revolutionary predecessors and we should carry forward them generation after generation.
India Today Group:
Can you share some details on the recent military exercises held by the Western Theater Command in Tibet, and the latest situation in the Doklam area where there is a standoff with India?
Wu Qian:
In mid-June, when the Chinese frontier forces were building roads in the Doklam region, Indian troops crossed into China's territory, and obstructed the Chinese side's normal activities. The Doklam region belongs to China. The Chinese side's activities were within China's sovereignty, and were fully just and lawful. The Indian troops crossed the determined boundary between the two countries. Their activity greatly undermined China's sovereignty and severely breached international law.
China is resolute in safeguarding its territory and sovereignty. No efforts will be spared in this regard. The Chinese troops have taken emergency countermeasures and they will make further deployments as well as undertaking further military drills accordingly.
We urge India to immediately withdraw the troops that crossed the border. Only on this basis can we seek a solution to the incident. Maintaining peace in border areas is key to regional peace and stability. It serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples. Therefore, we demand India to correct mistakes, stop provocative acts, and work with us to maintain peace and stability in border areas.
I would like to remind India to stop counting on luck or to hold onto unrealistic dreams. Since the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army 90 years ago the PLA has never ceased improving its ability to safeguard the country. We are determined to safeguard China's sovereignty and territory, and no one can defeat us.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese military forces have entered a new era in military diplomacy.
Our diplomatic activities have become increasingly active, pragmatic and self-motivated. We have made further progress in maintaining stable relationships with big countries; we have deepened communication with neighboring countries; we have further consolidated relations with developing countries. Through international military exchange and cooperation activities, we have gained a bigger say in the world when participating in global governance. We have also efficiently fulfilled our international responsibilities, and made new contributions to world peace and development.
Fruitful results have been achieved in the past, and the future is even brighter. We will make more endeavors to enhance international military cooperation, and build the Chinese army into a world-class army.
Southern Metropolis Daily：
August 1 of this year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). It is said that relevant military parades and celebrations will probably be held during the period. Would you like to confirm it? Thank you.
Wu Qian:
With regard to the question you have mentioned, we will release relevant information in due course. Thank you.
Xinhua News Agency:
The PLA is being engaged in a grand military reform known as the "most important reform in Chinese history." Could you please give us a brief introduction to the latest progress and achievements in the reform of China's defense and army building? Thank you.
Wu Qian:
I would like to take your question. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Central Military Commission (CMC) and President Xi Jinping, China is pushing forward the reform of national defense and the PLA in a planned and step-by-step manner, and we have made significant breakthroughs in some major areas and key links.
Taking the reform of the leadership and command system as the first step, the PLA have set up a new command operations pattern, in which the CMC is the highest policy-making body responsible for the overall strategic development of the PLA; the battle zones are only responsible for combat training and combat command of the troops under their jurisdiction; and all services are only responsible for army building and won't intervene in specific command matters. This approach has realized a historical change in the PLA's organizational structure.
Under this process, we have set up the framework of the new military system involving optimizing the size and constitution of the PLA, and carried out the reform of military academies, research institutions and training institutions. In addition, the work related to transferring and organizing troops from one unit to another is progressing orderly. As soon as all the reforms are completed, the PLA will be more capable, more scientific and more optimized.
The adjustment and reform of military policies and systems is also advancing steadily. We have introduced the supporting policies and systems in the fields of military human resources and logistics. Moreover, we also have taken substantial measures in implementing the strategy of civil-military integration. The CPC Central Committee has decided to set up a central civil-military integration development committee to further strengthen the centralized and unified leadership in the development of civil-military integration and to accelerate the integration to boost a development framework featuring complete elements, multi-fields and high benefit.
Thank you.
China Global Television Network (CGTN):
An advanced country in the world is observed as one governed by laws and a modern military force must also abide by the rule of law. However, certain officers have violated Party disciplines and military regulations as is evidenced by the rise of corruption. Therefore, could you please tell us how the army has pressed ahead with law-based governance since the 18th CPC National Congress? Thank you.
Lu Yu:
I would like to answer your question. President Xi has stressed that strict law-based governance has always worked as a solid foundation to reinforce military development and acted as a fundamental strategy for the Party to build and run the army.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the entire PLA has adhered to the strategies envisioned by President Xi in view of law-based military discipline, complied to the deployments following the decisions of CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, enhanced the faith and awareness of the rule of law, changed the management mode in accordance with law, accelerated the construction of a military legal system with distinctive Chinese features and fortified the level of rule of law in national defense and military construction.
The following four points support this.
First, the military legislation launched to rule the military troops are gauged by its effectiveness for whether it can enhance the strength of military forces. Military officers and soldiers have anticipated and developed necessary legislation which is indispensable for reform and the potential preparation for action. The portfolio of military laws and regulations with distinctive Chinese features has continued to be improved. Over the past five years, the country has mandated three military laws, 53 codes and more than 800 rules.
Second, there are three fundamental changes to accelerate the reform of military discipline. In accordance with the rule of law, the leadership and instruction methods have pressed ahead with changes and military construction and reform have developed smoothly along the course of legal governance. A good situation is taking shape as the Party committee, authorities, soldiers and officers assume their duties in accordance with the law.
Third, the enforcement of military laws and regulations have been constrained and supervised to oversee the exercise of power. Combining diverse oversight measures can strengthen military discipline, enhance law enforcement, exert strong influence over the army and maintain a zero tolerance to any violations, in order to make laws and regulations as unbroken vows.
Fourth, we constantly strengthen the faith and enhance the awareness of the rule of law of soldiers and officers. The officers, as a minority, have been given full play to press ahead with legal education by holding events inside the military camps and by arousing the interests of the military staff to study and to act in accordance with the law.
Looking back on the achievements made during the past five years, law-based military developments containing distinctive Chinese features and the guidelines of President Xi's strategic thoughts has accelerated into the fast lane. To rule the military forces by law has, therefore, opened up a new historical chapter and marked a new journey of the military's legal development.
Reuters:
It was reported that the Vietnamese government authorized mineral rights to be released for some foreign petroleum companies in the South China Sea region. Can you offer some relevant information on this? Is the Chinese People's Liberation Army preparing to strengthen work in the relevant sea areas? The second question, some reports have said that a Vietnamese fishing boat was damaged by Chinese naval vessels. Can you confirm this? Thank you.
Wu Qian:
China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao and their surrounding waters and the sovereignty has a sufficient historical and legal basis. The Chinese People's Liberation Army undertakes its responsibilities in safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests. About your specific questions, I don't have any information.
Shenzhen TV:
The 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is on August 1. According to the custom that "large-scale celebrations are held every 10 years, with smaller-scale celebrations every five years", at this important juncture of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, what commemorative activities will be held by the PLA? Thank you.
Wu Qian:
Last Friday, we held one such commemoratory activity, an exhibition marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. About other activities, we will release relevant information in due course.
New York Times:
The Korean Peninsula is an international hotspot about which everyone is concerned, especially when the further development of nuclear weapons by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently has stoked up regional tension. In regard to this situation, if there are military conflicts or even wars on the peninsula, what will be the response of the Chinese army? Thank you.
Wu Qian:
This is a hypothetical question, and it is not appropriate to answer it here. I can say that China is committed to realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and settling the nuclear issue through dialogues and consultation in a peaceful manner. Thank you.
Hu Kaihong:
Today's press conference ends up here. Thank you all.