Focus on Modernizing National Defense

Beijing — Members of the military delegation attending the annual session of China’s National People’s Congress have conducted in-depth study and discussions on an important speech delivered by President Xi Jinping. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the military delegation, said on Tuesday that Xi’s speech has further enriched and developed the policies and guidelines aimed at strengthening political loyalty within the Chinese military.

Xi Jinping, who serves as President of China, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended a plenary meeting of the military delegation last Saturday. During the meeting, he emphasized that collective efforts are necessary to steadily and sustainably advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. Xi particularly stressed the importance of fully leveraging the unique strength of political loyalty within the military in order to build a more capable, disciplined, and modern armed force.

Representatives from the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force pledged to faithfully implement Xi Jinping’s directives. They committed to effectively enforcing the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chairman of the Central Military Commission, further deepening political rectification, strengthening comprehensive military training and combat readiness, and pooling collective strength to advance high-quality development.

Speaking about the priorities for modernizing national defense and the armed forces, spokesperson Zhang stated that the military will further strengthen political guidance while deepening political reforms. He noted that priority will also be given to developing advanced combat capabilities, modernizing military administration and governance systems, and improving the institutional structures related to the leadership and management of the people’s armed forces. China has also put forward plans to strengthen the integrated development of national strategies and overall strategic capabilities.

Meanwhile, China’s national budget for 2026 is expected to include a notable increase in defense spending. According to the proposed budget, national defense expenditure will rise by 6.9 percent compared with the previous year’s actual spending, while central government defense expenditures are expected to increase by about 7 percent. Zhang said that the increase in the defense budget will focus on four key areas.

First, the overall development of the military will be advanced through the integrated promotion of mechanization, informatization, and the application of smart technologies. In addition, efforts will be made to optimize the joint operational system and accelerate the development of advanced combat capabilities. Another significant portion of the defense spending will be directed toward accelerating innovation in advanced weapon systems and defense technologies. The budget will also support the construction of modern logistics systems, military training under real combat conditions, and the continued deepening of political rectification within the armed forces.

Zhang made it clear that safeguarding national unity and sovereignty remains the top priority for China’s military. He warned that the armed forces will firmly oppose separatist activities carried out in the name of “Taiwan independence” and resolutely resist any form of external interference. While China continues to pursue peaceful reunification with Taiwan with the greatest sincerity and effort, he emphasized that the country has never promised to renounce the option of using force if necessary.

According to Zhang, the Chinese armed forces will further intensify combat readiness and military training, continuously strengthen their ability to fight and win wars, and decisively thwart any attempts at secession or external interference. Through these efforts, China aims to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Overall, the discussions at the National People’s Congress session indicate that China is moving forward with a comprehensive strategy to elevate its defense policy and military modernization to a new level. Following Xi Jinping’s directive, the Chinese military has signaled its determination to strengthen national security in the coming years by prioritizing political loyalty, advanced technology, and combat readiness.