Military deputies vow to build strong army

BEIJING - Military deputies to China's top legislature have vowed to build a strong army following top Chinese leader Xi Jinping's calls to that effect earlier in the week.

On March 11, Xi urged the country's armed forces to be "absolutely loyal" to the Communist Party of China, sharpen fighting capacity and abide by disciplines as he joined a plenary meeting of a delegation from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the ongoing session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC).

Xi, the newly-elected state president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on forces personnel to bring the country's defense and army building to new high.

"Xi's demand for the army to be at full military readiness to ensure victories in any wars shows his sense of crisis and strategic vision," said Chen Zhou, a national legislator and a researcher with the PLA's Academy of Military Sciences, on the sidelines of the parliamentary session.

The army can only avoid wars when it is capable of winning them, added Tan Weihong, an NPC deputy and a brigade commander from the Second Artillery Corps, China's strategic missile force.

The safety of China's energy resources, overseas assets, strategic maritime passages and overseas personnel is of great concern for China as the country is more open to the world, said Du Benyin, another NPC deputy and a political commissar of a navy submarine base.

The Chinese army and its soldiers should adapt to this new situation and make their due contribution, according to Du.

A consolidated national defense and a strong Chinese army will ensure the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and safeguard the world peace, said Chen Zhou.

China is the largest contributor of personnel to UN peace-keeping missions among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Since 2008, China has sent 14 batches of naval task forces to conduct escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.