China's peace commitment unchanged after military overhaul

China's plan to reorganize its military administration structure and command system will not affect the country's defense policy, which is "defensive in nature," a spokesman for the National Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Yang Yujun told a press conference that "Chinese armed forces will always be a staunch force to safeguard world peace and regional stability," after President Xi Jinping announced on Thursday that all China's armed forces will be supervised and controlled by the top military organ, the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Xi said at a meeting attended by more than 200 high-ranking military officials on Thursday that the current regional military commands will be regrouped into new battle zone commands under the CMC.

Xi's announcement in September that the military would cut 300,000 troops "again demonstrated China's resolve to pursue a path of peaceful development," said Yang when asked whether the overhaul means adjustment to national defense policy.

He said it was intended to "make breakthroughs in military administration and joint operational command, optimize military structure, enhance policy systems and civilian-military integration, and build a modern military with Chinese characteristics that can win computer-based wars."

The meeting, "a milestone in China's military development," was a sign of the deepening of national defense and military reform, according to Yang.

The spokesman cited "profound and complicated changes in the international situation," the need to "uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics", and "concertedly advance the strategic layout of the Four Comprehensives", as the reasons for the reform.

"It will focus on removing systematic barriers that had constrained military building, so as to boost modernization of the military and liberate and develop troops' fighting capacity," he said.

The reorganization will help build a strong military force that suits China's international status, fits its national security interests and provides a guarantee to the "Chinese dream" of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.