means and methods;
-- To make serious preparations to cope with the most complex and difficult scenarios, uphold bottom-line
thinking, and do a solid job in all aspects so as to ensure proper responses to such scenarios with ease
at any time and in any circumstances;
-- To bring into full play the unique political advantages of the people’s armed forces, uphold the CPC’s
absolute leadership over the military, accentuate the cultivation of fighting spirit, enforce strict discipline,
improve the professionalism and strength of the troops, build closer relations between the government
and the military as well as between the people and the military, and boost the morale of officers and men;
-- To give full play to the overall power of the concept of people’s war, persist in employing it as an ace
weapon to triumph over the enemy, enrich the contents, ways and means of the concept of people’s war,
and press forward with the shift of the focus of war mobilization from human resources to science and
technology; and
-- To actively expand military and security cooperation, deepen military relations with major powers,
neighboring countries and other developing countries, and promote the establishment of a regional
framework for security and cooperation.
IV. Building and Development of China’s Armed Forces
In the implementation of the military strategic guideline in the new situation, China’s armed forces must
closely center around the CPC’s goal of building a strong military, respond to the state’s core security
needs, aim at building an informationized military and winning informationized wars, deepen the reform of
national defense and the armed forces in an all-round way, build a modern system of military forces with
Chinese characteristics, and constantly enhance their capabilities for addressing various security threats
and accomplishing diversified military tasks.
Development of the Services and Arms of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed
Police Force (PAPF)
In line with the strategic requirement of mobile operations and multi-dimensional offense and defense, the
PLA Army (PLAA) will continue to reorient from theater defense to trans-theater mobility. In the process of
building small, multi-functional and modular units, the PLAA will adapt itself to tasks in different regions,
develop the capacity of its combat forces for different purposes, and construct a combat force structure
for joint operations. The PLAA will elevate its capabilities for precise, multi-dimensional, trans-theater,
multi-functional and sustainable operations.
In line with the strategic requirement of offshore waters defense and open seas protection, the PLA Navy
(PLAN) will gradually shift its focus from “offshore waters defense” to the combination of “offshore waters
defense” with “open seas protection,” and build a combined, multi-functional and efficient marine combat
force structure. The PLAN will enhance its capabilities for strategic deterrence and counterattack,
maritime maneuvers, joint operations at sea, comprehensive defense and comprehensive support.
In line with the strategic requirement of building air-space capabilities and conducting offensive and
defensive operations, the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) will endeavor to shift its focus from territorial air
defense to both defense and offense, and build an air-space defense force structure that can meet the
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