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A modern country should be governed by law, and a modern army should operate in accordance with the law.
On Feb. 26, 2015, the second work day after the Chinese lunar new year holiday, Xinhua News Agency reported that the Central Military Commission (CMC) had issued a document approved by President Xi Jinping to promote the rule of law in the army, together with strictly enforcing military discipline.
The decision promoted the comprehensive rule of law and strict disciplinary enforcement in the army, requiring all personnel to raise their understanding and awareness of the rule of law. It also sought to transform the army’s management mode, and create an environment in which all organs and personnel perform their duties according to law, so as to increase the level of legalized management in national defense and military building.
Since then, in daily military news, “running the army in accordance with law and strictly enforcing military discipline” has become one of the most frequently cited terms of this year.
New Moves
Observers of Chinese military affairs noted that recent motions were mostly related to the rule of law. For example, the CMC issued a five-point rule to supervise the selection and appointment of military officials. It was the first time the army had moved to systematically standardize personnel selection and appointments. The four headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) issued a guideline (2015-2020) to reform physical training in the first requirement to maintain physical fitness.
Since Xi took the helm of the CMC, he has been bold and resolved to rectify undesirable work styles and discipline violations in the army. He has repeatedly stressed the strict management of the PLA. News media have reported that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the PLA has introduced “iron-fisted” measures, including a “ten-point rule” to ban alcohol and extravagance, circulars to change military vehicle plates and luxury cars, and stipulations to control expenditure and clean up real estate violations. Since January, the PLA has released 11 orders to strictly manage the army.
These frequent military orders demonstrate the PLA’s resolve. Among a slew of new policies, the regulation on cadre management stood out.
In 2012, right after the 18th CPC National Congress, the CMC released a “ten-point rule” to strengthen army building. The rule emphasized supervision over “the CMC and the four headquarters, with a focus on high and middle-level cadres,” in a move to encourage senior generals to set good examples.
A regulation in April emphasized, with “ten musts,” the building of military discipline to restrain CPC military officials. It is an important document to strengthen self-discipline among CPC military officials and military discipline.
The General Political Department of the PLA and the discipline inspection commission of the CMC both issued circulars, saying that violations of the regulation would incur sever penalties.
All of the measures were implemented.
