Late last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater efforts to modernize the country’s military, stressing that it is the key to China’s national rejuvenation.
Beijing announced a new goal to transform the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a fully modern military force by 2027, a decision made by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee earlier this week.
The plenum announced in a statement that the planned deadline coincides with the centenary of the PLA, and its further modernization will be synchronized with the strengthening of China’s defense capabilities and economic growth.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted Hong Kong military analyst Song Zhongping as saying that the PLA-related target could be seen as something aimed at turning the Chinese military into “a world-leading power, something that could reach the same level as the US army. “
