BEIJING: China has revised its National Defense Law, expanding the power of its armed forces led by the president Xi Jinping mobilize military and civilian resources to defend their national interests both at home and abroad.
The new law, effective January 1, weakens the role of the State Council, China’s cabinet led by Prime Minister Li Keqiang, in formulating military policy, handing over decision-making powers to the Military Commission. Central (CMC), the high command general of the two million strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA) led by Xi, based in Hong Kong South China morning post reported Sunday.
Xi, 67, has become the Communist Party of ChinaThe most powerful leader of the CCP after its founder Mao Zedong, occupying the positions of Secretary General of the CCP, head of the armed forces as well as the Presidency with prospects for a lifetime term.
He is the only civilian leader in the CMC, packed with high-ranking military officers. The amendments to the National Defense Law (NDL) were approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (APN) on December 26 last year.
The revised law came into effect after the key conclave of the ruling CCP in November last year finalized plans to build a fully modern military on par with the United States by 2027.
By 2027, which marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, China will build a fully modern army, a goal that is aligned with the national force and will meet the future need for national defense, official media previously said.
The revised law specifically emphasizes the need to build a coordination mechanism at the national level for the mobilization of state and private companies to participate in the investigation of new defense technologies that cover conventional weapons, as well as non-traditional domains of cybersecurity, space and electromagnetism. .
Military and political analysts said the new NDL aimed to strengthen the country’s military leadership under Xi, providing it with the legal foundations to respond to the challenges of accelerating the confrontations between China and the United States.
Deng Yuwen, former deputy director of the communist party The Study Times publication said the amendments were aimed at legalizing and formally enforcing the “special” nature of China’s defense and political system when it comes to situations that could harm the regime at home and abroad.
“The political nature of China is very different from many countries … it is not surprising that Beijing improves the leadership of the CMC when the PLA goes to defend China’s national interests around the world,” Deng told the Post.
Chen Daoyin, a former professor of Political Science and Law at Shanghai University, said the changes showed that the regime had gained the confidence to legitimize its long-standing principle that “the party rules the gun” and stamp its “leadership. absolute over armed “. and reserved forces. ”
“The move to include ‘development interests’ as a reason for armed mobilization and war in law would provide legal basis for the country to launch a war in the legitimate name of defending national development interests,” Chen said.
Zeng Zhiping, an expert on military law at Soochow University, said that one of the big changes to the law was the downgrading of the role of the State Council in formulating the principles of China’s national defense and the right to lead and manage the mobilization of its armed forces.
“The CMC is now formally in charge of formulating national defense policy and principles, while the State Council becomes a mere implementing agency to provide support to the armed forces,” said Zeng, who is a lieutenant colonel. withdrawn from the EPL.
“It’s a stark contrast compared to developed countries like Israel, Germany, and France, who prefer to put their armed forces under civilian leadership. Even in the US, civilian leaders Ministry of Defence it plays a more important role than its top military commanders, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “he said.
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