Xi urges innovation in 'new military revolution'

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for more innovation in the country's military as the world is witnessing a "new military revolution".

"The world's new military revolution has come at the same time as opportunities and challenges for China and we must develop foresight and insight into these development," said Xi while presiding over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Friday.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, urged all Party members to be more aware of military issues, defense and military building and military preparedness, and to give more support to the country's national defense and military reforms.

"The world is in a stage of accelerated evolution and profound adjustment," Xi said, noting that progress in the military sector is with informationization at the core.

He added that developing the military is also about innovation in military strategies, technologies, operational thinking, combat forces and military management, with reshaping the military system as the goal.

The new military revolution is developing at a pace so fast and with its impact so broad and profound that have rarely been seen since the end of WWII, Xi said.

The Chinese military must make great leaps in development and innovation so as to close the gap with its better-developed peers in the world, the president said.

Xi urged the military to innovate in military theories, armaments, strategies and management so that it can fulfill its duties.

"We should cast off the paradigm of mechanized warfare and embrace an approach to war featuring information technology. The principle of protecting traditional security interests should also be shifted to one for the country's comprehensive security and strategic interests," according to Xi.

The tendency of separate military departments to defend their own interests should be thrown out in favor of a mindset of maintaining the interests of the entire army and the country, Xi said.

He urged the integration of military and civilian innovation so that the two can accommodate each other and develop together, noting the responsibilities of local Party organizations and government departments in the reform.