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China's peace commitment unchanged after military overhaul

TOKYO, Nov 27 (KUNA) -- The Chinese National Defense Ministry said Friday that the country's plan to reorganize its military administration structure and command system will not affect the country's defense policy, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
"Chinese armed forces will always be a staunch force to safeguard world peace and regional stability," ministry's spokesman Yang Yujun told a press conference in Beijing, after President Xi Jinping announced that all of China's armed forces will be supervised and controlled by the top military organ, the Central Military Commission. Xi said at a meeting attended by more than 200 high-ranking military officials on Thursday that the current regional military commands will be regrouped into new battle zone commands under the commission.
Meanwhile, Xi's announcement in September on a plan to cut 300,000 troops "demonstrated China's resolve to pursue a path of peaceful development," Yang said, when asked whether the overhaul means an adjustment to national defense policy. The spokesman said it was intended to "make breakthroughs in military administration and joint operational command, optimize military structure, enhance policy systems and civilian-military integration, and build a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win computer-based wars." On Thursday, Xi also highlighted a timeline for achieving concrete results in the reform, saying breakthroughs in overhauling the leadership and joint command system must be made by 2020. To finish the task, Xi said high-ranking military officers must take the lead to support the reform and defend the authority of the central leadership. Common soldiers should be guided to embrace the reform. (end) mk.rk