‘Be politically sensible’: President Xi Jinping’s advice to new leaders of Chinese military

President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told leaders of the newly reorganised Central Military Commission to make political discipline their top priority, in a move analysts say reflects his determination to centralise power as part of his overhaul of the military.

Xi, the chairman of the CMC, on Monday urged the heads of the commission’s 15 departments to be loyal, adhere to political principles and follow the Communist Party’s absolute leadership of the military.

“The top requirement for leaders of the CMC departments is political discipline. [They] must strictly uphold party principles and political convictions, enhance political awareness, stand firm on political [issues], strictly obey political discipline and be politically sensible people,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.

The military leaders should “frequently, actively and resolutely” align themselves with the party’s Central Committee and the CMC, and submit themselves to their command.

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The leaders head 15 departments directly under the CMC, reorganised from the previous system of “four headquarters” – the General Staff, General Political, General Logistics and General Armaments departments.

Macau-based military expert Wong Dong said Xi had emphasised political discipline because he wanted to fight resistance to the overhaul.