CCTV reported on January 28 that Xi Jinping inspected the Joint Operations Command Center of the Central Theater Command in Beijing on the eve of the Chinese New Year, listened to reports, and made a video call with the overseas peacekeeping team of the Central Theater.
CCTV pointed out that the peacekeeping infantry battalion, engineer detachment, medical detachment, and helicopter detachment lined up to report to Xi Jinping in turn. Xi Jinping emphasized, “We must pay attention to strengthening security precautions and do a good job in epidemic prevention and control”, “creating a new situation in theater construction and war preparations”, “welcoming” the convening of the 20th National Congress, and requiring all troops to open in the New Year and the Winter Olympics. During the period, “strengthen combat readiness on duty”, maintain “security and social stability”, and do a good job in “epidemic prevention and control”, etc.
Times commentator Shen Zhou wrote in The Epoch Times on the 29th that although Xi Jinping mentioned “preparing for war” and “strengthening combat readiness on duty”, he put forward more requirements for internal control, and epidemic prevention and control were also emphasized and made clear again. It is necessary to ensure the safety of the 20th National Congress, and in the near future, the safety of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Shen Zhou mentioned that it was rumored that a large number of military vehicles entered Beijing recently, which should also be to prevent accidents in the Winter Olympics, so as to avoid adverse international impact. Therefore, Xi Jinping’s inspection of the central theater this time is to ensure the safety of Beijing and surrounding areas. , with the intention of showing military power again internally.
The central theater defending Gyeonggi is the most important to Xi Jinping. On January 21, Xi Jinping was promoted to the first batch of generals this year. Two of the seven people were from the Central Theater Command, including commander Wu Yanan and political commissar Xu Deqing. This is considered to be Xi Jinping’s move to further consolidate military power ahead of the 20th National Congress.
Since taking office, Xi Jinping’s main method to eliminate Jiang Zeng’s forces in the military, in addition to anti-corruption, is to reform the military and frequently adjust the generals and officers of various theaters and services. The main command of the military region was generally fixed for 10 years during the Deng Xiaoping period and five years during the Jiang Zemin period. However, Xi Jinping frequently rotates the commander-in-chief between war zones, and even has a record of changing the commander-in-chief of war zones three times in one year.
In addition, Xi Jinping’s inspection of the central theater in camouflage this time also attracted attention.
The outside world has noticed that before Xi Jinping, the chairman of the CCP Military Commission basically had no record of wearing camouflage uniforms for inspections, and Xi Jinping appeared in camouflage uniforms several times, almost all of which were important moments. The Standing Committee decided to investigate Zhou Yongkang. One month later, in January 2014, Xi Jinping wore a camouflage uniform to inspect the border post on the China-Mongolia border; 2016 was called the first year of the Xi’s core, and the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was about to be held, and Xi’s army launched the Xi’s core. In April of this year, Xi wore a camouflage uniform to inspect the Joint Operations Command Center of the Military Commission.
He put on camouflage again this time, which may be another major signal.
In July 2017, the CCP held a large-scale military parade in Zhurihe, a small town in Saibei. Xi Jinping also participated in a camouflage uniform, which was accused of imitating Deng Xiaoping’s 1981 Zhangjiakou military parade. In the military parade after Deng Xiaoping, Jiang and Hu both wore the military uniforms of the national defense green generals and school, and did not wear camouflage uniforms.