China signs decree to increase training of PLA troops

The new regulation will help strengthen the management of military training. Credit: Staff Sgt D Myles Cullen (USAF).

Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed an order to step up the training of the country’s two million military personnel to enhance combat readiness.

According to media reports, the country’s top military body has not only deployed inspectors but also has a new oversight system to boost the combat readiness of its People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, signed the decree for a new regulation on the supervision of military training. The regulation will take effect from 1 March.

This kind of military training is claimed to be first of its kind for the country, reported state-run news agency Xinhua.

The regulation has formulated measures to enhance practices in line with the requirements of actual combat. Furthermore, it also elaborates the criteria for identify discipline issues during military training of the personnel.

It also details the responsibilities and priorities of military training supervision in addition to regularising the methods for performing them.

This regulation will help strengthen the management of military training.

The country’s military has an annual budget of more than $175bn and is heavily investing in modernising its navy.

China’s Navy is being bolstered with aircraft carriers, submarines and battleships.

The new training order follows reports of criticism on the lack of stringent training of the PLA troops with new hardware.

Retired Chinese naval officer Wang Yunfei commented that training and not hardware is essential for combat readiness  given that it is the people who use the weapons matter.

Meanwhile, media reports say that China is developing four new nuclear aircraft carriers, which will be deployed to the South-China Sea.