PLA pledges to strengthen capabilities

Goal echoes resolution that military protects sovereignty and security

High-ranking commanders of the People's Liberation Army have pledged to further strengthen their forces' operational capability and combat readiness to honor the historic resolution adopted by a landmark meeting of the Communist Party of China.

"The resolution clearly states that the armed forces must improve their capabilities of establishing favorable situations, containing crises, and preventing and winning wars," General He Ping, political commissar of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, told China Central Television.

"We will follow the strategic road map set by the Party for the modernization of the national defense system and the military, strive to boost the combat capability in modern warfare, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and interests, strongly suppress Taiwan secessionism and effectively deal with sea-based provocations," he told the State broadcaster.

General Yu Zhongfu, political commissar of the PLA Air Force, told CCTV that the Air Force has undergone a massive strategic transformation and is moving toward the goal of becoming a world-class force guided by President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"We must continue implementing the Party's instructions to make sure the Air Force is capable of conducting defense and strike operations in both air and space," Yu said. "We must focus on the building of a world-class force and opening a new chapter of the Air Force's development."

General Liu Lei, political commissar of the PLA Ground Force, told the State broadcaster that the armed forces will always uphold the Party's leadership and will produce "satisfactory scores" for the Party.

The three generals are members of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which at its sixth plenary session in Beijing last week adopted a landmark resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC's 100 years of endeavors.

The resolution said the growth of China's defense capability has been keeping pace with the nation's economic development. The military is always true to its missions in the new era and has successfully protected the country's sovereignty, security and interests, it noted.