China's Xi calls for military loyalty to new constitution
A day after he won the mandate to rule for life, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on China's military to follow the country's newly-amended constitution in which his political thought is now enshrined.
Xi told military officials: ‘The whole army must strengthen its constitutional awareness, promote the constitutional spirit and be a loyal admirer, conscientious follower and staunch defender of the constitution.’
China's rubber-stamp parliament on 11 March endorsed Xi's move to abolish rules limiting heads of state to 10 years in power.
The amendment also added the leader's eponymous political philosophy into the constitution: ‘Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.’
It was the first constitutional amendment in 14 years and reversed the era of ‘collective leadership’ and orderly succession that was promoted by late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
Xi, who is also head of the military, was speaking during a meeting of the People's Liberation Army and armed police at the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress.
Unlike most countries, China's armed forces are permanently under the control of the ruling Communist Party, rather than the state.
Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has presided over sweeping reforms intended to transform the country's military from a rusty Soviet-era relic into a modern fighting force.
In his speech, he referred to the ‘revolutionary restructuring’ of the military's organisational structure in recent years.
The changes have included the replacement of top military brass with Xi loyalists and the sacking of top generals for corruption.
Former Chief of Joint Staff Fang Fenghui is facing prosecution for bribery, state media reports said in January. Former Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman Guo Boxiong was jailed for life in 2016.
Earlier in 2018, the party took control of China's paramilitary force, a move analysts said could have arisen from anxiety over the potential use of the police to stage a coup.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Why small guns have been critical to layered CUAS architectures]()
Why small guns have been critical to layered CUAS architectures
Multiple countries have been deploying small arms as the last line of drone defence due to their multiple operational and tactical advantages.
-
![Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering hints at export success for AME assault rifle family]()
Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering hints at export success for AME assault rifle family
The Singapore-based technology company unveiled its new rifle family at this week’s airshow. Chen Chuanren spoke with the ST Engineering’s head of small arms to find out more about how the weapons have been refined.
-
![High tension in the High North – a wake-up call for NATO’s future Arctic defence efforts?]()
High tension in the High North – a wake-up call for NATO’s future Arctic defence efforts?
Any potential ‘Arctic Sentry’ mission would be months in the planning, but with tensions high in the region given the US’s push for Greenland, NATO countries will need to continue to emphasise their commitment to the region, analysts have said.
-
![Venezuela prepares personnel and equipment for a potential second US attack]()
Venezuela prepares personnel and equipment for a potential second US attack
Defence Minister Gen Vladimir Padrino López has declared that the Venezuelan armed forces “will continue to employ all its available capabilities for military defence”.
-
![As the new year starts, the UK defence spending delay continues]()
As the new year starts, the UK defence spending delay continues
The UK’s defence spending commitments remain uncertain as the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which had been due by the end of 2025, is yet to be published.
