Fear over PLA loyalty before party congress sees propaganda frenzy

A frenzy of military propaganda that started more than six months ago calling for absolute loyalty to the Communist Party stands in stark contrast to the atmosphere before the party congress in 2002, analysts say, adding that it highlights concerns about the army's stability.

The People's Liberation Army Daily carried another article on its front page yesterday on the ideological education of the troops, this time written by General Li Jinai, a member of the Central Military Commission and a former chief of the PLA's General Political Department.

"[We] should strongly oppose the arguments for separation of the army from our party, a politically neutral army or the nationalisation of the PLA and other incorrect political ideas," Li wrote in the article, first published in the November issue of the party journal Qiushi.

Zhang Lifan , a Beijing-based political analyst, said such unease stemmed from too many "uncertainties" in the leadership reshuffle at this month's party congress.

"Today's political uncertainty in the top leadership has never happened since the party came to power in 1949," he said , referring to the next leadership line-up, which is apparently not finalised even though the congress opens in less than a week.

"And the sense of crisis today over the party's reign is comparable to the Tiananmen protests in 1989.

"In such a sensitive moment, the loyalty of the army becomes the most important pillar to support the central leadership's regime."