Three new PLA units created in armed forces’ reform

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated three new units of China’s People’s Liberation Army at a ceremony on Thursday in Beijing, in a bid to establish a coordinated system of China’s army, navy and air forces that is adaptable to modern warfare.

     The move comes as Xi aims to consolidate his grip on the military through such a reform.

     China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday about the creation of the new units — the PLA Rocket Force, the PLA Army general command and the PLA Strategic Support Force. Xi himself appointed the commanders of each unit, according to Xinhua.

     By completing the PLA reform by the end of last year and making the announcement on the first day of 2016, Xi underscored the significance of what is being called the country’s largest military reform since China’s foundation in 1949.

     The PLA Rocket Force, renamed from the PLA Second Artillery Force, is in charge of China’s ballistic missiles. It has been upgraded to the same level as the country’s army, navy and air forces. The PLA Rocket Force is a “core force of strategic deterrence … and an important building block in upholding national security,” Xi said at the ceremony.

     Speaking to reporters on Friday, defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun reiterated the country’s no-first use nuclear weapons policy. According to Xinhua, he said that China keeps its nuclear capability at the minimum level required for safeguarding its national security and that China’s nuclear policy and strategy are consistent, without any changes.

     The PLA Army general command did not exist in the conventional Chinese military. This is because the commands of the navy and air forces were integrated into the PLA in the past.

     Thus, the creation of the general command means that the navy and air forces are now treated on a par with the army, in a clear departure from the PLA’s heavy focus on the army. It is designed to further integrate the operations of the three forces.

     However, Xinhua and the defense ministry have stopped short of disclosing details about the PLA Strategic Support Force. Xi only said it is a new force in protecting China’s national security. Analysts believe that it includes units tasked with cyberattacks and the use of outer space for military purposes.

     Li Zhuocheng was appointed as the commander of the PLA Army and Wei Fenghe became the commander of the PLA Rocket Force, while Gao Jin was named the commander of the PLA Strategic Support Force.