China in 2017: Building world-class military forces

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"The world is not all at peace, and peace must be safeguarded." – Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping is determined to transform the world's largest military into world-class fighting forces.

"We will make it our mission to see that by 2035, the modernization of our national defense and our forces is basically complete, and that by the mid-21st century our people's armed forces have been fully transformed into world-class forces," Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said in his report to the 19th CPC National Congress in October.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews the armed forces as part of the commemorations to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Zhurihe military training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region onJuly 30. /Xinhua Photo

This year has been a remarkable one on that journey: China's first domestically built aircraft carrier was launched, the country opened its first military support base overseas, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) resolutely safeguarded the country's territorial sovereignty during a border standoff with India in the Dong Lang (Doklam) area that lasted more than two months, reforms are underway to improve the PLA's combat capability and readiness for war in the new era.

Aircraft carrier and J-20 fighter

"Science and technology is the core fighting capacity in modern warfare," Xi noted in an address to heads of major military research and educational institutions in Beijing on July 19.

China witnessed major breakthroughs in its military technologies this year.

On April 26, the nation launched its second aircraft carrier in Dalian, a coastal city in northeastern province Liaoning. It was the first carrier built in China.

China's second aircraft carrier is transferred from dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony in Dalian shipyard of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province on April 26. /Xinhua Photo

Photo taken on July 30 shows the echelon of J-20 stealth fighters during a military parade at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. /Xinhua Photo

J-20, China's indigenous fourth-generation medium and long-range fighter jet, made its parade debut on July 30 in Zhurihe in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as the PLA staged a show of strength to mark the 90th anniversary of its founding.

Nationwide military reshuffle

China announced in April a military reshuffle with 84 corps-level units newly adjusted or established, a move hailed by Xi as a major step in strengthening the country's armed forces.

The reshuffle was not the only reform measure to modernize the military in 2017. A Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development headed by Xi was set up to lead the integration of military and civilian undertakings – a national strategy aimed at building a wealthy nation and a strong military with concerted efforts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with chief military officers of newly adjusted or established corps-level military units in Beijing, April 18. /Xinhua Photo

Defender of world peace

China, the biggest contributor of peacekeeping troops among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the second-biggest financial contributor to the UN's peacekeeping programs, has taken new steps to defend world peace.

The PLA opened its first overseas support base in the east African country of Djibouti on August 1. The base will help China fulfill its international obligations such as escort and peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid operations in areas including the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.

In September, China registered an 8,000-strong standby peacekeeping force at the UN.

Ships carrying Chinese military personnel depart from the port of Zhanjiang, southern China's Guangdong Province on July 11 to set up a support base in Djibouti. /Xinhua Photo

Fight against corruption

Meanwhile, the country has continued with its anti-corruption campaign in the military.

Zhang Yang, former head of the CMC Political Work Department, committed suicide at his home on November 23 after authorities launched an investigation into his links to two corrupt former CMC vice chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.

Zhang had seriously violated discipline and law. He was suspected of offering and accepting bribes and holding a huge amount of property from unidentified sources, according to investigators.