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SCMP Reporter

MILITARY chief General Liu Huaqing hailed President Jiang Zemin's plan to slash the armed forces by 500,000 in the next three years.

  Sources said General Liu had long been fiercely opposed to such huge cuts.

 However, the cutback was a 'major measure to improve the quality of the People's Liberation Army', General Liu, senior vice-chairman of the party's Central Military Commission and one of seven members of the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, yesterday told army delegates in a panel discussion.

 'It is an important part of Deng Xiaoping's thinking on army building in the new period to improve the quality of the Chinese Army and take the road of fewer but better troops.

 'This is a correct choice to materialise the modernisation of armed forces,' Xinhua quoted General Liu as saying.

 He gave his formal approval to the plan by saying that such a move would better prepare the Army for modern warfare.

 'We should take the chance to readjust the system and make the Army smaller in size but more capable in strength,' he said.

 General Liu also told the military delegates that China would strive to improve scientific research in defence, Xinhua said.

 'It is imperative to train a large number of military personnel who know the art of modern wars, especially commanders who are well versed in high technology, through improved education and intensified training,' he said.

 When launching economic reforms in the early 1980s, Deng had already cut one million personnel from the PLA in order to refocus state spending on economic development.

 General Liu also said the Army should pledge total loyalty to the party.

 'All members of the PLA should conscientiously safeguard the economic reform policies of Deng Xiaoping Theory, and fully implement the party line,' he said. 'Ours is an armed force under the absolute leadership of the party.'  It is widely expected that General Liu, 81, will be replaced on the Politburo at this week's congress, possibly by a protege of Mr Jiang, Zhang Wannian, also a vice-chairman of the military commission.



'Critical' PLA chief hails forces cut