War on corruption to strengthen PLA

The People's Liberation Army's fighting capacity grows stronger as it resolutely combats corruption, a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, responding to questions about recent senior personnel changes in the military.

Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular news briefing that investigations into Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member, represent a major achievement in the Communist Party of China's anti-corruption campaign within the military.

Zhang and Liu have been placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of Party discipline and laws, the ministry said on Saturday.

The cases demonstrate the Party's and the military's firm resolve and strong capacity to fight corruption and are of great significance for advancing clean governance in the armed forces, Jiang said.

Asked about the impact of high-level military personnel changes on the Taiwan question, Jiang said the crackdown would only strengthen the PLA.

"The more resolutely the PLA combats corruption, the stronger, cleaner and more combat-capable it becomes, remaining at all times a heroic force that the Party and the people can fully trust and rely on," he said.

Jiang warned armed "Taiwan independence" forces not to harbor illusions. Any attempt to confront the PLA would be "tantamount to striking a stone with an egg" and would lead only to their own destruction, he said, stressing that "the ultimate outcome will be the reunification of the motherland".

He reiterated that peaceful reunification and the principle of "one country, two systems" remain the mainland's basic policy for resolving the Taiwan question.

"We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and the greatest efforts, but we will never commit to renouncing the use of force, nor will we allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland," Jiang said.

Separately, Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that the mainland firmly holds both the initiative and the dominant position in cross-Strait affairs and will leave no room for any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activity.

In response to a question on whether Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te might escalate provocative "independence" moves to rally support ahead of the island's crucial "nine-in-one" local elections later this year, and as he faces an impeachment vote in May amid a political gridlock, Jiang said the PLA firmly opposes separatism and external interference and will continue to step up training and combat readiness to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The more rampant the 'Taiwan independence' forces become in their provocations for secession, the faster they will head toward their own demise," he said.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn