At the time when we are marking the 60th anniversary of the
victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression
and the worldwide war against fascism, we usher in the 78th
anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The past 78 years has witnessed glorious achievements made by the PLA.
Under the leadership of the CPC, the PLA has faithfully implemented the sacred
missions entrusted by the CPC and the people, and made immortal achievements and
written a splendid chapter on the bloody battlefields, in the struggles to
defend the motherland, and in the great tide of reform and opening-up and
modernization drive. At present, all the officers and men, holding high the
great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three
Represents", are carrying out in a deep-going way Jiang Zemin's thinking on
national defense and army building, and earnestly acting on Chairman Hu Jintao's
important instructions. They firmly establish and implement a scientific outlook
on development and keep abreast with the new situations and new requirements and
work hard to accelerate the military changes with Chinese characteristics, and
create a new situation of overall advancement and coordinated development for
national defense and army building. Moreover they constantly strengthen
ideological and political work in the army, and adopt solid and effective ways
to push ahead with the preparation for military struggles. Meanwhile notable
results have also been achieved in the logistics reform, and the weaponry and
equipment have been upgraded and the scientific and technological level of
national defense has been enhanced. The army has become stricter with itself,
and new progress has been made in modernization drive of the army.
Now, at this moment of reflection, we deeply feel that the most fundamental
reason why our army has been able to grow big and strong from being small and
weak and to advance from victory to victory is because our army has the staunch
leadership of the CPC, and because our army always obey the orders of the CPC in
all actions. The CPC's absolute leadership over the army is the lifeline of the
army, the source of its strength, the core of its nature and the basis of its
tradition.
Chairman Hu points out that the CPC's absolute leadership over the army is
the eternal soul of the army, which can never be changed, and under the new
historic conditions this concept should be further intensified. This is the most
important political demand upon the army set forth by the CPC under the new
situation, and it is also the basic principle for strengthening the army
building.
In order to stride ahead under the CPC's absolute leadership, the first and
foremost is to consciously hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory
and the important thought of "Three Represents", resolutely uphold the authority
of the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, and ensure
that our army resolutely listen to and follow the CPC at any time and under any
circumstances, for this is in the fundamental interests of the state and the
people, and it is also the most fundamental and important political discipline
of our army.
To stride ahead under the CPC's absolute leadership, we
must faithfully implement the new historical missions entrusted to the army by the CPC and the
people. The historical missions of the PLA in the new century and the new stage
set forth by Chairman Hu is a concentrated reflection of new demands of the
CPC's three historical tasks in the new century upon the army, an embodiment of
the most essential law governing the building and development of the people's
army, thus they have shown clearly the direction of advancement for our army.
To stride ahead under the CPC's absolute leadership means that we must
resolutely implement scientific outlook on development, and promote in an
all-round way the modernization drive of our army.
We are proud of splendid achievements we have made in the past, and full of
confidence for the grand blueprint for the future. We will closely rally around
the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, hold high the
great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three
Represents", carry out in a deep-going way Jiang Zemin's thinking on national
defense and army building, earnestly implement Chairman Hu's important
instructions, and keep up with the times and work hard with pioneering spirit to
build our army into a more revolutionary, modernized and regularized army.
(Aug 1, PLA Daily)