Deep Dive into the Political Building of the PLA Under Xi

Also in this edition: Li Qiang-Anthony Albanese Call - China's New Regulations on Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Security

Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Page 1: Let’s begin with Xi Jinping’s letter to the faculty and students of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Southwest Jiaotong University and Beijing Jiaotong University. Xi noted that the four universities are connected by their shared roots, and are jointly celebrating their 130th founding anniversaries this year. He added:

“I hope you will persist in upholding the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as your guiding principle, adhere to the founding mission of ‘pursuing practical learning and engaging in practical endeavours’, carry forward and promote the Westward Relocation Spirit, focus on the nation’s major strategic needs, strengthen independent scientific and technological innovation and independent talent cultivation, achieve more breakthroughs in promoting the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, and make new contributions to building a strong nation in education, science and technology, and talent.” 希望你们坚持以新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，秉持“求实学、务实业”办学宗旨，传承弘扬西迁精神，聚焦国家重大战略需求，加强科技自主创新和人才自主培养，在促进产学研深度融合上实现更多突破，为建设教育强国、科技强国、人才强国作出新贡献.

Xi also sent a congratulatory note to To Lam on his election as president of Vietnam. Xinhua says:

“Noting that China and Vietnam are a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said that in recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Vietnam relations have achieved leapfrog development, and the comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained high-level strategic communication and continuously advanced all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, fully demonstrating the profound friendship of ‘comrades plus brothers’, he said. Xi stressed that, in the face of accelerating changes unseen in a century, stronger unity and coordination between China and Vietnam serve the common interests of both parties and countries. Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and stands ready to work with To Lam to advance development and national rejuvenation, promote steady progress in the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, continuously strengthen respective socialist causes, and better benefit the two peoples, so as to inject greater stability and positive energy into the region and the wider world. Also on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Le Minh Hung on his election as prime minister of Vietnam.”

Next, there’s a report on Premier Li Qiang’s call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Li Qiang said that the current international situation is complex and volatile, with the global economy continuously affected by geopolitical turbulence, protectionism, and other factors. As important partners to one another, China and Australia must accurately steer the course of their bilateral relationship, strive to foster and maintain a positive atmosphere, and consolidate the positive momentum of their bilateral ties and cooperation. China stands ready to work with Australia to effectively implement the important consensus reached last year between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination, solidify political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, add more driving force to the development of both countries, and provide more stability to the region and the world. 李强表示，当前国际局势变乱交织，世界经济受到地缘动荡、保护主义等持续冲击。中澳互为重要合作伙伴，应当把准两国关系的正确方向，努力营造和维护良好氛围，巩固双边关系与合作向好势头。中方愿同澳方落实好习近平主席去年同总理先生达成的重要共识，保持高层交往，加强沟通协调，筑牢政治互信，深化互利合作，共同维护多边主义、自由贸易，为两国发展增添更多动能，为地区和世界提供更多稳定性.

Li Qiang pointed out that China-Australia economic and trade cooperation possesses strong endogenous momentum and holds immense potential in the long run. During the 15th FYP period, China will persist in taking the expansion of domestic demand as its strategic foundation, vigorously stimulate consumption, promote a notable increase in the household consumption rate, and continuously release market demand. China’s vast market will always remain open to the world. China stands ready to import more high-quality products from Australia, work with Australia to continuously expand the scale and quality of bilateral trade, support enterprises from both countries in conducting cooperation based on market principles, and foster mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Both sides should accelerate the review and upgrade discussions regarding their bilateral free trade agreement to provide stronger institutional safeguards for cooperation between the two nations. There is great potential for China-Australia green cooperation, and China is willing to leverage complementary advantages with Australia to deepen cooperation in such areas as clean energy, electric vehicles, energy storage and carbon reduction, jointly building stronger momentum for the development of the green economy.” 李强指出，中澳经贸合作具有很强的内生动力，从长远看还有巨大潜力。“十五五”时期，中国将坚持扩大内需这个战略基点，大力提振消费，促进居民消费率明显提高，持续释放市场需求。中国大市场将始终向世界开放。中方愿进口澳方更多优质产品，同澳方一道推动双边贸易不断扩容提质，支持两国企业按市场原则开展合作，促进互利共赢。双方要加快双边自贸协定审议和升级讨论，为两国合作提供更优制度保障。中澳绿色合作大有可为，中方愿同澳方加强优势互补，深化清洁能源、新能源汽车、储能、减碳等领域合作，携手壮大绿色经济发展动能.

As per Xinhua, “Albanese said the Australian government has always been committed to developing a stable, mature and constructive relationship with China. Under the current international circumstances, the steady development of Australia-China relations is particularly important. Australia has long adhered to the One-China policy and stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, expand cooperation across sectors, including trade, investment, mining, clean energy, and people-to-people ties, and, in a spirit of mutual respect, appropriately manage differences to advance the Australia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. I look forward to visiting China to attend the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Australia is also prepared to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China to address global challenges and promote world peace, stability, and development.” 阿尔巴尼斯表示，澳大利亚政府始终致力于发展稳定、成熟和富有建设性的对华关系。当前国际形势下，澳中关系稳健发展尤为重要。澳方长期坚持一个中国政策，愿同中方加强高层往来，拓展贸易、投资、矿业、清洁能源、人文等领域交流合作，本着相互尊重精神妥善管控分歧，推动澳中全面战略伙伴关系发展。我期待赴华出席2026年亚太经合组织领导人非正式会议。澳方愿同中方加强多边沟通协调，应对全球性挑战，促进世界和平稳定发展.

Another report on the page informs that the eight central guidance groups who have been dispatched as part of the Party learning campaign on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements have completed their stationing work across 20 localities and units. The report says:

“The heads of each central guidance group pointed out that conducting the education campaign throughout the entire Party on establishing and practicing the correct view of political achievements is an important task of Party-building this year. Dispatching central guidance groups is a powerful measure to promote relevant localities and units to deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the two establishments and resolutely achieve the two safeguards; it is a powerful measure to promote relevant localities and units to implement and carry out the Party Central Committee’s deployment requirements regarding the education campaign; and it is a powerful measure to promote relevant localities and units to ensure that the campaign achieved actual results. Relevant localities and units must, in accordance with the Party Central Committee’s deployment requirements regarding the campaign, raise their political standing, deeply recognise the major significance of carrying out this education campaign and the political considerations of the Party Central Committee in dispatching central guidance groups, and effectively strengthen their consciousness and resoluteness in carrying out the education campaign well.” 各中央指导组组长指出，在全党开展树立和践行正确政绩观学习教育，是今年党的建设的重要任务。派出中央指导组，是推动有关地方和单位深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义、坚决做到“两个维护”的有力举措，是推动有关地方和单位贯彻落实党中央关于学习教育部署要求的有力举措，是推动有关地方和单位学习教育取得实效的有力举措。有关地方和单位要按照党中央关于学习教育部署要求，提高政治站位，深刻认识开展这次学习教育的重大意义和党中央派出中央指导组的政治考量，切实增强抓好学习教育的自觉性坚定性.

“The heads of each central guidance groups emphasised that their work must be firmly centered on implementing the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, as well as the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directives, and closely focus on conscientiously and solidly raising ideological understanding, rectifying prominent problems, and establishing systems and rules to carry out guidance and supervision. The correct positioning of functional roles must be grasped, political responsibility must be tightened and made concrete, adherence to focusing on the theme and emphasising a problem-oriented approach must be maintained, adherence to jointly answering the same questions must be maintained; jointly plan jointly discuss countermeasures, and jointly break through difficult problems; drive concentrated effort and force toward deep study, genuine investigation, and real rectification; work hard to enhance the quality and effectiveness of guidance and supervision work, and by using points to promote the overall, push the Party-wide study and education to achieve solid results.” 各中央指导组组长强调，要紧紧围绕党中央决策部署和习近平总书记重要指示精神落实落地，紧紧围绕认认真真、扎扎实实提高思想认识、整改突出问题、立好制度规矩开展指导督导。要把准职责定位，压紧压实政治责任，坚持聚焦主题、突出问题导向，坚持同题共答，共同谋划、共商对策、共破难题，推动聚力用劲深学、真查、实改，着力提升指导督导工作质效，通过以点促面推动全党学习教育取得扎实成效.

Finally, there’s a very, very long article on how self-revolution is being pursued across the PLA. This is significant given the purges that we have seen and continue to see across the Chinese armed forces. The article says:

“In the face of complex and profound changes in the world situation, national conditions, Party conditions, and military conditions, how can the PLA, which is about to mark the centenary of its founding, continuously strengthen its political advantages and stride forward toward world-class status? Chairman Xi Jinping has profoundly pointed out that it is necessary to firmly grasp the requirements of the era for politically building the military, advance the political building of the military without a moment’s pause, and ensure that the People’s Army forever preserves its nature and mission, always dares to fight and is certain to win, always unites and struggles together, always produces an abundance of talent, always remains pure and glorious, and always maintains strict discipline under law. ‘To build a strong military, it is first necessary to be strong politically; being strong politically is the most fundamental strength.’ Since entering the new era, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core, standing at the strategic height of winning historical initiative in strengthening and rejuvenating the military, has with enormous political courage and a strong sense of historical responsibility led the advancement of the military’s political-building and deepened political rectification, firmly safeguarded the political character of the People’s Army, and opened a new journey of reshaping the People’s Army through political rectification.”

即将迎来建军一百年的人民军队，面对世情国情党情军情复杂深刻变化，怎样不断增强政治优势，阔步迈向世界一流？习近平主席深刻指出，要牢牢把握政治建军时代要求，一刻不停推进政治建军，确保人民军队永葆性质宗旨、始终敢打必胜、始终团结奋斗、始终人才辈出、始终纯洁光荣、始终法纪严明。“强军首先要在政治上强，政治上强是最根本的强。”进入新时代以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央站在赢得强军兴军历史主动的战略高度，以巨大政治勇气和强烈历史担当领导推进政治建军、深化政治整训，坚定捍卫人民军队政治本色，开启了以政治整训重塑人民军队的新征程.

The first section of the article talks about the work carried out under Xi to “comprehensively strengthen Party leadership and Party building work” the military, with the objective to “provide a strong political guarantee for opening up a new situation in the cause of strengthening the military.” “全面加强新时代我军党的领导和党的建设工作，为开创强军事业新局面提供坚强政治保证”

The section basically makes the argument that the PLA must follow the Party’s banner.

“The Party’s leadership and Party building are the key to military construction and development, bearing on the rise and fall of the cause of military strengthening, and bearing on the long-term peace and stability of the Party and the state. Prior to the 18th Party Congress, the People’s Army had, for a time, faced issues such as the weakening of Party leadership, deficiencies in Party building, and ineffective comprehensive and strict Party governance. Had these issues not been thoroughly resolved, they would have not only compromised the military’s combat effectiveness but also jeopardized the fundamental political principle that ‘the Party commands the gun’. At this major historical juncture, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core firmly grasped the fundamental imperative of upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the military. It steadfastly advanced political rectification and training, thereby comprehensively strengthening the Party’s leadership and Party building within the military in the new era.

Gutian in western Fujian—the very place where the principles of ‘building the Party ideologically’ and ‘building the military politically’ were established. President Xi personally decided to convene an All-Military Political Work Conference there to outline the strategic blueprint for political building of the military in the new era. By advancing political rectification and training in the spirit of the historic Rectification Movement, he guided the People’s Army to regroup, reorganize, and embark on a new journey.

Yan’an in northern Shaanxi—the sacred land of the Chinese revolution and the birthplace of the rectification movement. At the CMC’s Political Work Conference convened there, Chairman Xi scientifically summarized the connotation and requirements of the ‘Ten Clears’ of the new era’s strategy for political-building of the military, and emphasised the need to ‘carry forward the spirit of thorough self-revolution and continuously deepen political consolidation and rectification’.

‘Political rectification and training must be approached from a political perspective, focusing on resolving fundamental issues concerning the Party’s absolute leadership over the military. In recent years, the People’s Army has resolutely and unwaveringly advanced political consolidation and rectification, rectifying ideology, rectifying the use of personnel, rectifying organization, rectifying work style, rectifying discipline, thereby effectively resolving the prominent problems of weakening the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, upholding, consolidating, and improving the system of the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, and safeguarding the very root and soul of the military amidst a process of revolutionary forging.

The Party Central Committee and the CMC have formulated a series of political designs and institutional arrangements centered on the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, achieving major theoretical results, practical results, and institutional results.

‘Upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the People’s Army’ has been elevated to the status of a basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC has been formally enshrined in the Party Constitution. Defense and military reforms have been deepened, forming the new pattern of the CMC exercising overall leadership, the theater commands focussing on combat operations, and the various services concentrating on force development, thereby better concentrating the supreme authority of leadership and command over the military in the Party Central Committee and the CMC.

Mechanisms for requesting instructions and reporting, supervision and inspection, and information services have been established and improved; opinions and regulations have been issued on matters such as requesting instructions and reporting on major issues, supervision and implementation of instructions and directives, oversight and accountability, and planning for study and education, promoting the implementation of the CMC Chairman Responsibility System across all fields and the whole process of national defense and military construction.

Adhering to advancing ideological Party building and institutional Party governance in the same direction, regulations and systems such as the ‘Regulations of the Communist Party of China on Party Building in the Military’, the “Provisions on the Work of Party Committees in the Military of the Communist Party of China’, and the ‘Provisions on the Implementation of the Principal Responsibility for Comprehensively and Strictly Governing the Party by Military Party Committees’ have been issued; the ‘Regulations on Political Work in the Military’ have been revised; and a systematic framework of institutional regulations for Party-building in the military has been constructed…

Officers and soldiers throughout the military have profoundly comprehended the decisive significance of the two establishments, enhanced the four consciousnesses, consolidated the four self-confidences, achieved the two safeguards, implemented the CMC Chairman Responsibility System, and have firmly remained loyal to the core, supported the core, upheld the core, and defended the core.” 党的领导和党的建设是我军建设发展的关键，关系强军事业兴衰成败，关系党和国家长治久安。党的十八大之前，人民军队一度出现党的领导弱化、党的建设缺失、全面从严治党不力问题，如果不彻底解决，不仅影响军队战斗力，而且事关党指挥枪这一重大政治原则。重大历史关头，以习近平同志为核心的党中央紧紧扭住坚持党对军队绝对领导这个根本，坚定不移推进政治整训，全面加强新时代我军党的领导和党的建设。闽西古田——确立思想建党、政治建军原则的地方。习主席亲自决策在这里召开全军政治工作会议，对新时代政治建军作出部署，以整风精神推进政治整训，引领人民军队重整行装再出发。陕北延安——中国革命的圣地、整风运动的发源地。在这里召开的中央军委政治工作会议上，习主席科学概括新时代政治建军方略“十个明确”内涵要求，强调要“发扬彻底的自我革命精神，持续深化政治整训”。“政治整训要坚持从政治上抓，着力解决党对军队绝对领导带根本性的问题。”这些年，人民军队坚定不移推进政治整训，整顿思想、整顿用人、整顿组织、整顿作风、整顿纪律，有效解决了弱化党对军队绝对领导的突出问题，坚持、巩固并完善了党对军队绝对领导的制度，在革命性锻造中守住了根和魂。党中央和中央军委围绕党对军队绝对领导作出一系列政治设计和制度安排，取得重大理论成果、实践成果、制度成果——“坚持党对人民军队的绝对领导”上升为新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的一条基本方略。把中央军事委员会实行主席负责制这一制度在党章中确立下来。深化国防和军队改革，形成军委管总、战区主战、军种主建新格局，更好使军队最高领导权和指挥权集中于党中央和中央军委。建立完善请示报告、督促检查、信息服务三项机制，出台重大事项请示报告、指示批示督办落实、监督问责、学习教育规划等方面意见规定，推动军委主席负责制贯彻到国防和军队建设各领域全过程。坚持思想建党和制度治党同向发力，出台《中国共产党军队党的建设条例》和《中国共产党军队委员会（支部）工作规定》、《军队党委落实全面从严治党主体责任规定》等法规制度，修订《军队政治工作条例》，体系构建军队党的建设制度规定……全军官兵深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，坚定忠诚核心、拥戴核心、维护核心、捍卫核心。

The section later adds:

“In the new era, the organisational structure and force system of the military have undergone overall, revolutionary reshaping; the system structure, classification, and functional configuration of Party organizations at all levels and of all types have correspondingly undergone major changes. ‘Only when Party organizations at all levels are all sound and all up to standard, forming a tight organizational system that is vertically connected top to bottom and powerful in execution, can the Party’s leadership function ‘as the body directs the arm, and the arm directs the fingers.’ This is the reasoning behind the Party organisational line in the new era, emphasising ‘taking the construction of the organizational system as the key focus’.

Adapting to adjustments in the military system and establishment, standardizing the functional positioning, establishment and formation, and main tasks of Party organizations at all levels and of all types, building a Party organization system that is linked with the new leadership and command system, matched with the new scale structure and force composition, and integrated with the effective fulfillment of the military’s missions and tasks in the new era…Chairman Xi has led the entire military in seizing hold of Party organization construction as the foundation and key, applying force in a connected manner to strengthen organizations, strengthen functions, and strengthen the ranks, organizing and rallying the broad masses of officers and soldiers, uniting them into ‘a solid piece of steel’.

Party committees at and above the corps level occupy an important position and bear major responsibility in the Party’s organizational system in our military. In July 2023, when Chairman Xi Jinping inspected the Air Force of the Western Theater Command, he emphasized that it is necessary to firmly grasp high-level Party committees, persist in setting the example from above and in strict requirements, raise political judgment capability, political comprehension capability, and political execution capability, raise the capability to lead in combat readiness and warfare, and ensure that the self-improvement of the Party committee leadership teams themselves is of the highest caliber.

Focusing on improving the self-construction of high-level Party committees and their ability to lead warfare and grasp construction, the entire military has strengthened political capability training and political tempering, strengthened regular study and training in implementing democratic centralism, improved and implemented rules for Party committee deliberation and decision-making and decision supervision mechanisms, organised the conduct of ‘look-back’ reviews in the ideological alignment of Party committees at or above the corps, engaging in deep scrutiny and self-examination centered on the five rectifications, thereby continuously improving measures for the self-construction of Party committee leadership bodies.

The strength of the Party comes from organisation; if the organisation is strong, then the military is strong. Focusing on transforming the Party’s leadership advantage into a development advantage, the whole military is striving to forge strong Party organisations that are politically firm and capable, continuously raising Party organizations’ leadership power, organizational power, and execution power; wherever missions and tasks extend to, the functions and roles of Party organizations are brought into play…” 新时代，军队组织架构和力量体系实现整体性革命性重塑，各级各类党组织的体系结构、类型设置、职能配置等相应发生了很大变化。“只有党的各级组织都健全、都过硬，形成上下贯通、执行有力的严密组织体系，党的领导才能‘如身使臂，如臂使指’。”这是新时代党的组织路线强调“以组织体系建设为重点”的道理所在。适应军队体制编制调整，规范各级各类党组织职能定位、设立组建和主要任务，构建与新的领导指挥体制相衔接、与新的规模结构和力量编成相匹配、与有效履行新时代军队使命任务相融合的党组织体系……习主席引领全军抓住党组织建设这个基础和关键，贯通发力强组织、强功能、强队伍，把广大官兵组织起来、凝聚起来，团结成“一块坚硬的钢铁”。军级以上高层党委在我军党的组织体系中地位重要、责任重大。2023年7月，习主席视察西部战区空军时强调，要扭住高层党委，坚持以上率下、从严要求，提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，提高领导备战打仗能力，把党委班子自身建设搞过硬。全军着眼提高高层党委自身建设和领战抓建能力，强化政治能力训练和政治历练，加强贯彻执行民主集中制经常性学习培训，完善落实党委议事决策规则和决策监督机制，组织军级以上单位党委开展思想清理“回头看”，围绕“五个整顿”深查细照，不断完善党委班子自身建设措施。党的力量来自组织，组织强则军队强。聚焦把党的领导优势转化为发展优势，全军着力锻造政治坚定、能力过硬的坚强党组织，不断提高党组织领导力、组织力、执行力，使命任务拓展到哪里，党组织功能作用就发挥到哪里——

The second section of the article focuses on “ensuring that the gun barrel is always held in the hands of those who are loyal and reliable to the Party”

“In Spring 2016, when Chairman Xi Jinping inspected the National Defense University, he profoundly pointed out that ‘when cadres come to the National Defense University to study, the first point is to study the Party’s theory, receive Party spirit education, and raise their political level and theoretical level. This point must be highlighted and upheld with unwavering clarity.’ Our military faces intertwined and complex tests on the political front. How can it be ensured that the ‘gun barrel’ is always held in the hands of those who are loyal and reliable to the Party, and that the cause of the Party and the military has successors? ‘It is necessary to firmly grasp the political gate, uphold political standards, strengthen ideological and political development, and effectively carry out the work of forging souls and cultivating talent as well as political vetting, thereby ensuring that the personnel we cultivate and employ are absolutely impeccable in their political integrity’. Seizing firmly the human factor as the definitive factor in winning wars, Chairman Xi has guided the entire military to address the fundamentals and consolidate the roots, striving to forge a high-quality talent contingent capable of undertaking the important task of strengthening the military.

He emphasised the need to ‘grasp the characteristics and laws governing the work of forging souls and cultivating talent under new circumstances, and focus on cultivating a new generation of revolutionary soldiers who possess a soul, ability, spirit, and moral character’; he proposed the standards for exemplary military cadres as being ‘loyal to the Party, adept at planning for war, brave in taking responsibility, outstanding in actual achievements, and clean and incorruptible’; he unequivocally established that ‘political standards constitute the primary criterion for talent within our military, and political requirements represent the most fundamental demands placed upon our military personnel’... 2016年春，习主席在国防大学视察时深刻指出：“干部到国防大学学习，首先一条就是学习党的理论、接受党性教育，提高政治水平和理论水平。这一条必须突出出来，做到旗帜鲜明。”我军在政治上面临的考验错综复杂，如何确保枪杆子始终掌握在对党忠诚可靠的人手中，确保党和军队事业后继有人？“要牢牢把住政治关，加强思想政治建设，做好铸魂育人和政治考察工作，确保培养和使用的人才政治上绝对过硬。”扭住人这个战争制胜的决定因素，习主席引领全军抓根固本，着力锻造堪当强军重任的高素质人才队伍——强调“把握新形势下铸魂育人的特点和规律，着力培养有灵魂、有本事、有血性、有品德的新一代革命军人”；提出“对党忠诚、善谋打仗、敢于担当、实绩突出、清正廉洁”的军队好干部标准；明确“政治标准是我军人才第一位的标准，政治要求是对我军人才最根本的要求”……今年全国两会，习主席出席解放军和武警部队代表团全体会议时明确要求，要加强革命化专业化人才队伍建设，坚持不懈用党的创新理论铸魂育人，打牢官兵听党话、跟党走的思想根基，确保现代化武器装备掌握在革命化人才队伍手中.

The rest of the section talks about how these changes and requirements are being implemented. It talks about the emphasis on theoretical armament through lectures, discussions and classes. Under this, there are some guidelines mentioned; these are ‘Opinions on Building a System of Ideological and Political Education for the People’s Army in the New Era’ and the ‘Regulations on Ideological and Political Education in the Military’.

The section then says:

“‘If the mind relaxes by an inch, action will scatter by a foot.’ Chairman Xi has issued a solemn warning: an ideological slide constitutes the most serious form of pathology. If the ‘main switch’ is not tightened, one cannot correctly handle the relationship between public and private, and lacks correct views of right and wrong, justice versus profit, the nature of power, and one’s professional calling, then various deviations, boundary-crossings, and leakages will become inevitable. In the summer of 2024, at the Political Work Conference of the CMC, Chairman Xi offered a profound analysis of the deep-seated contradictions and issues currently facing political work within the military. He called upon cadres at all levels, particularly senior cadres, to personally immerse themselves in this process, muster the courage to set aside face and expose shortcomings and ugliness, and, with an attitude of digging deeply into root causes and touching the soul, conduct deep reflection, carry out earnest rectification, resolve the root problems in thinking, and push the building of the military politically to go deeper and become more solid. Why join the Party? Why serve as a soldier? Why serve as a commander? Units at and above the regiment level across the entire military have seriously and earnestly convened democratic life meetings of Party committees, conducting in-depth analysis and supervision, and strict reflection and self-examination; at different levels they have identified and rectified erroneous words, deeds, and unhealthy styles tainted by pernicious influences, focusing their efforts on resolving fundamental ideological issues concerning ideals and convictions, Party spirit cultivation, and official and personal integrity; they have solidly carried out study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, rectifying problems such as impure motives in performing duties, improper use of official power, and insubstantial work style…Each round of discussion and discrimination has brought ‘red faces and sweating’, touching the soul; each instance of warning education has taken cases as a mirror, producing deterrence and stark reminders.

Ideological tempering is a deep plowing and cultivation in the depths of the soul. Cadres at all levels must uphold political guidance, strengthen ideological tempering, thoroughly advance ideological cleansing, and continuously deepen theoretical discernment, striving to root out erroneous thoughts and firmly establish correct values ​​and perspectives. A certain Army unit organized cadres to analyze the ideological knots of problems such as clique culture, privilege mentality, and inconsistency between words and deeds, diligently dusting off ‘ideological dust’, often reflecting on the ‘harm of greed’, and regularly eliminating the ‘thief in the heart’, ensuring that without deluded thoughts within there will be no reckless actions without; the Guangdong Corps of the People’s Armed Police has focused on rectifying fake, grandiose, hollow work routines, correcting subjective conjecture, rash pursuit of quick success and instant benefit, and deviation from actual conditions in work thinking, re-establishing the prestige of political work and reshaping the image of political cadres…” “思想上松一寸，行动上就会散一尺。”习主席严肃告诫，思想上的滑坡是最严重的病变，“总开关”没拧紧，不能正确处理公与私的关系，缺乏正确的是非观、义利观、权力观、事业观，各种出轨越界、跑冒滴漏就在所难免了。2024年夏，在中央军委政治工作会议上，习主席深刻剖析当前政治建军需要解决的深层次矛盾和问题，要求各级干部特别是高级干部把自己摆进去，拿出抛开面子、揭短亮丑的勇气，以深挖根源、触动灵魂的态度，深刻反思，认真整改，解决好思想根子问题，推动政治建军走深走实。入党干什么？当兵干什么？为将干什么？全军团级以上单位严肃认真召开党委班子民主生活会，深入剖析检视、从严反思自省；分层级查摆纠治流毒沾染的错误言行和不良做派，着力解决理想信念、党性修养、官德人品等思想根子问题；扎实开展树立和践行正确政绩观学习教育，纠治履职动机不纯、为官用权不正、工作作风不实等问题……一场场讨论辨析红脸出汗、触及灵魂，一次次警示教育以案为鉴、震慑警醒。思想淬火，是一场灵魂深处的重犁深耕。各级坚持政治引领，加强思想淬炼，纵深推进思想清理，持续深化理论辨析，着力把错误思想根子拔除掉，把正确价值观念立起来。陆军某部组织机关干部剖析圈子文化、特权思想、表里不一等问题的思想症结，勤掸“思想尘”、多思“贪欲害”、常破“心中贼”，以内无妄思保证外无妄动；武警广东总队着力纠治假大虚空的工作套路，匡正主观臆断、急功近利、偏离实际的工作思路，重树政治工作威信、重塑政治干部形象…

The section then calls for applying theory to practice, offering examples of how that is being done across the PLA. The third section of the article talks about learning from and inheriting the red gene, i.e., that the PLA today must continue to learn from and cultivate the ideals and convictions that the Red Army had. This talks about learning military history, and mentions some guidelines that have been issued to support and institutionalise these efforts.

The fourth and final section talks about corruption. It says:

“‘The fight against corruption is a major struggle that we cannot afford to lose and must never lose.’ Since the 18th Party Congress, Chairman Xi Jinping has led the entire military in steadfastly implementing comprehensive and strict governance of both the Party and the military, deeply advancing political rectification, improving work style, and combating corruption, with a level of determination and intensity that is unprecedented. Resolute action has been taken to investigate and punish cases of serious violations of law and discipline involving figures such as Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Fang Fenghui, and Zhang Yang; serious cases involving He Weidong and Miao Hua have been strictly handled; and formal investigations have been launched into allegations of serious disciplinary and legal violations involving Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli…

No matter who it is, no matter how high the position, anyone who engages in corruption will never be tolerated. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee and Chairman Xi, the military’s anti-corruption campaign has focussed on hunting ‘tigers’, clearing out ‘big rats’, and digging out ‘termites’, always maintaining a high-pressure and strictly enforcing a posture with no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance, investigating as many as are involved and digging as deep as the connections go. Three feet of ice does not form in a single day, and melting three feet of ice is also not accomplished in a single effort. Corruption is the manifestation of the long-term accumulation and continuous fermentation of various unhealthy factors; it has strong stubbornness and repetitiveness, and any slight relaxation will lead to a resurgence, even intensification. In response, Chairman Xi has issued a series of important instructions.

Pointing out that ‘the situation of the anti-corruption struggle remains severe and complex, and the task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption remains arduous and heavy’; emphasizing that ‘the anti-corruption struggle must be unwavering—any hesitation, wavering, slackening, softening, or giving up halfway will constitute a subversive error’; requiring that ‘we must always maintain the tenacity and persistence that anti-corruption is always on the road, maintain strategic resolve and a high-pressure posture, without stopping for a single step or retreating half a step’... ‘It is fitting to use the remaining courage to pursue the exhausted enemy; one must not seek empty fame by imitating the tyrant-king.’ In this tough, protracted, and overall battle, Chairman Xi has led the People’s Army to deliver a set of ‘combination punches’ that treat both symptoms and root causes and apply systematic governance, advancing in an integrated manner the conditions of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt, and not wanting to be corrupt, and striving to eradicate the soil and conditions that breed corruption.

• Grasp the key of governing power, optimize and reconstruct the resources and forces of Party discipline inspection and supervision, patrol and inspection, auditing oversight, and judicial supervision, and establish a system for the operation of power in which decision-making, executive, and supervisory authorities serve to both check and complement one another.

• Weave tight the cage of systems, regulations and systems such as the ‘CMC Patrol and Inspection Work Regulations,’ ‘Provisions on Implementing Intra-Party Supervision within the Military’, Provisions on Intra-Party Accountability Work within the Military’ and others have been promulgated in rapid succession, exerting their full force and authority.

• Keep close watch on corruption’s hidden transformation and mutation, resolutely investigate and prosecute new-type corruption and hidden corruption, strengthen rectification and governance in key industries and fields and in areas where military and civilian interests intersect, deeply dig and carefully examine issues such as expected returns and agreed-upon proxy holdings;

• Vigorously rectify and combat ‘micro-corruption” occurring in the immediate vicinity of officers and soldiers, deepen and expand the work of grassroots conduct supervision contact points, keep a close watch on sensitive grassroots affairs, and thoroughly rectify problems such as eating and taking kickbacks, black-box operations, and false reporting and fraudulent claims

• Deepen the simultaneous investigation and treatment of conduct and corruption, toward phenomena of irregular eating and drinking, giving and receiving gifts, improper associations and others, strike as soon as they show their heads, investigate as soon as hands extend, block the transformation pathway of conduct evolving into corruption…

“反腐败是一场输不起也决不能输的重大斗争”。党的十八大以来，习主席引领全军坚定不移全面从严治党、全面从严治军，深入推进政治整训、正风反腐，决心之大前所未有，力度之大前所未有。坚决查处郭伯雄、徐才厚、房峰辉、张阳等严重违纪违法案件，严肃查处何卫东、苗华等严重违纪违法案件，对张又侠、刘振立涉嫌严重违纪违法问题立案审查调查……不管是谁、不管职位多高，只要搞腐败就决不姑息。在党中央、习主席坚强领导下，军队反腐打“老虎”、清“硕鼠”、挖“蛀虫”，始终保持无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍，涉及多少查多少、牵扯多深挖多深的高压严治态势。冰冻三尺非一日之寒，化三尺之冰也非一日之功。腐败是各种不良因素长期积累、持续发酵的体现，具有极强的顽固性、反复性，稍有松懈就会卷土重来，甚至愈演愈烈。对此，习主席作出一系列重要指示——指出“反腐败斗争形势仍然严峻复杂，铲除腐败滋生土壤和条件任务仍然艰巨繁重”；强调“反腐败斗争必须坚定不移，任何犹豫动摇、松懈手软或半途而废，都将犯颠覆性错误”；要求“要始终保持反腐败永远在路上的坚韧执着，保持战略定力和高压态势，一步不停歇、半步不退让”……“宜将剩勇追穷寇，不可沽名学霸王。”在这场攻坚战持久战总体战中，习主席引领人民军队打出一套标本兼治、系统施治的“组合拳”，一体推进不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐，着力铲除腐败滋生的土壤和条件。——抓住治权这个关键，优化重构纪检监察、巡视巡察、审计监督、司法监督等资源力量，形成决策权、执行权、监督权既相互制约又相互配合的权力运行体系；——织密制度这个笼子，《中央军委巡视工作条例》、《军队实施党内监督的规定》、《军队党的问责工作规定》等法规制度密集出台、发力生威；——紧盯腐败隐形变异，坚决查处新型腐败和隐性腐败，加强重点行业领域和军地交叉地带整肃治理，深挖细查预期收益、约定代持等问题；——大力纠治官兵身边的“微腐败”，深化拓展基层风气监察联系点工作，紧盯基层敏感事务，深入纠治吃拿卡要、暗箱操作、虚报冒领等问题；——深化风腐同查同治，对违规吃喝、收礼送礼、不当交往等现象露头就打、伸手就查，阻断风腐演变通道……

Page 2: We have a report on the Regulations on Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Security. Bill Bishop has helpfully offered a translated version of these. I am drawing from that translation to highlight a few points:

Article 3: The state shall establish and improve mechanisms for industrial chain and supply chain security work, and shall coordinate industrial chain and supply chain security work in a unified manner. Departments of the State Council for foreign affairs, development and reform, industry and information technology, public security, national security, law and governance, finance, natural resources, transportation, agriculture and rural affairs, commerce, financial management, customs, market supervision and administration, cyberspace administration, and others shall be responsible for industrial chain and supply chain security work in accordance with their respective mandates. Relevant departments of the State Council shall strengthen coordination in industrial chain and supply chain security work. People’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall, under unified state coordination, be responsible for industrial chain and supply chain security work relevant to their administrative regions. 第三条　国家建立健全产业链供应链安全工作机制，统筹协调产业链供应链安全工作。国务院外交、发展改革、工业和信息化、公安、国家安全、法治、财政、自然资源、交通运输、农业农村、商务、金融管理、海关、市场监督管理、网信等部门按照职责分工，负责承担产业链供应链安全工作。国务院有关部门加强产业链供应链安全工作协同配合。省、自治区、直辖市人民政府在国家统筹协调下，负责与本行政区域有关的产业链供应链安全工作。

Article 4 says that “enterprises shall be encouraged and supported to develop diversified supply channels, conduct industrial chain and supply chain cooperation, participate fairly in market competition, and improve the capacity to guard against industrial chain and supply chain security risks.” (I think this is something that the Indian government should be instituting for companies in India too.)

Article 7. The state shall strengthen industrial chain and supply chain security guarantees in key sectors. Relevant departments of the State Council shall formulate lists of key sectors and make dynamic adjustments, and shall maintain the stable and continuous production and circulation of raw materials, technologies, equipment, products, and other items in key sectors. 第七条　国家加强关键领域产业链供应链安全保障。国务院有关部门制定关键领域清单并实行动态调整，维护关键领域的原材料、技术、设备、产品等的生产与流通稳定、持续运行。

Article 9. The state shall establish and improve a system for monitoring and providing early warning of industrial chain and supply chain security risks in key sectors. Relevant departments of the State Council shall organize assessments and monitoring of the stability of supply channels for raw materials, technologies, equipment, products, and other items in key sectors, and their impact on economic and social stability and national security; identify industrial chain and supply chain security risks; and issue timely early warning information. Enterprises, industry associations, chambers of commerce, and other entities that discover circumstances affecting industrial chain and supply chain security may report them to relevant government departments at or above the county level. 第九条　国家建立健全关键领域产业链供应链安全风险监测预警制度。国务院有关部门对关键领域的原材料、技术、设备、产品等供给渠道稳定情况及其对经济社会稳定和国家安全的影响等，组织开展评估监测，识别产业链供应链安全风险，及时发布预警信息。 企业、行业协会商会等发现影响产业链供应链安全情形的，可以向县级以上人民政府有关部门报告。

Article 10. The state shall establish and improve a system for preventing industrial chain and supply chain security risks in key sectors. Relevant departments of the State Council shall organize the physical stockpiling and capability reserves in key sectors, increase efforts in the research and development of technologies, equipment, and products, and enhance the risk resistance capacity of industrial chains and supply chains in key sectors. 第十条　国家建立健全关键领域产业链供应链安全风险防范制度。国务院有关部门组织开展关键领域实物储备和能力储备，加大技术、设备、产品研发力度，提升关键领域产业链供应链抗风险能力.

Article 11. The state shall establish and improve an emergency management system for industrial chain and supply chain security in key sectors; relevant departments of the State Council shall formulate emergency work plans. Where circumstances arise that affect the security of industrial chains and supply chains in key sectors and endanger economic and social stability and national security, and upon decision by the State Council or a department authorized by the State Council, emergency response measures such as emergency dispatch, drawing on reserves, and organizing production, transportation, and supply may be taken. Where laws or administrative regulations provide otherwise, those provisions shall apply. 第十一条　国家建立健全关键领域产业链供应链安全应急管理制度，国务院有关部门制定应急工作预案。出现影响关键领域产业链供应链安全情形，危及经济社会稳定和国家安全的，经国务院或者国务院授权的部门决定，可以采取紧急调度、动用储备以及组织生产、运输、供应等应急处置措施。法律、行政法规另有规定的，依照其规定.

Article 14. Where a foreign state, region, or international organization, in violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations, adopts discriminatory prohibitions, restrictions, or other similar measures against China in the area of industrial chains and supply chains, or implements or assists in implementing conduct that damages China’s industrial chain and supply chain security, relevant departments of the State Council shall have the authority to conduct industrial chain and supply chain security investigations into the relevant measures or conduct. Relevant departments of the State Council may, in accordance with procedures, take corresponding measures including but not limited to: prohibiting or restricting the import and export of relevant goods and technologies or international services trade; and collecting special levies. Relevant departments of the State Council may, pursuant to the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Provisions on the Implementation of the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People’s Republic of China and other applicable rules, decide to place on a countermeasures list organizations and individuals that directly or indirectly participated in formulating, deciding upon, or implementing the measures or conduct described in the first paragraph of this article, and take countermeasures against them. 第十四条　外国国家、地区和国际组织违反国际法和国际关系基本准则，在产业链供应链方面对我国采取歧视性禁止、限制或者其他类似措施，实施或者协助实施损害我国产业链供应链安全行为的，国务院有关部门有权对有关措施或者行为开展产业链供应链安全调查。国务院有关部门按程序可以采取相应措施，包括但不限于禁止或者限制有关货物、技术进出口或者国际服务贸易，收取特别费用等。国务院有关部门可以依照《中华人民共和国反外国制裁法》、《实施〈中华人民共和国反外国制裁法〉的规定》等，决定将直接或者间接参与制定、决定、实施本条第一款规定的措施或者行为的组织、个人列入反制清单，采取反制措施。

Article 15. Where a foreign organization or individual, in violation of normal market transaction principles, interrupts normal transactions with Chinese citizens or organizations, adopts discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or organizations, or engages in other conduct that causes material damage or poses a material threat of damage to China’s industrial chain and supply chain security, relevant departments of the State Council shall have the authority to conduct industrial chain and supply chain security investigations. Investigations may be conducted through means such as questioning relevant parties, reviewing or copying relevant documents and materials, and other necessary methods; relevant parties shall cooperate with the investigation. During the investigation, the parties may make statements and present arguments in their defense. Based on the results of the investigation, relevant departments of the State Council may take the following measures against the foreign organizations or individuals concerned: prohibiting or restricting them from engaging in import and export activities related to China; prohibiting or restricting them from investing in China’s territory; prohibiting or restricting organizations and individuals within China’s territory from conducting relevant transactions or cooperative activities with them; prohibiting or restricting entry of relevant persons and means of transportation; and canceling or restricting the qualifications of relevant persons to work, stay, or reside within China’s territory. The relevant measures may also apply to organizations actually controlled by, or established or operated with the participation of, the foreign organizations or individuals concerned. 第十五条　外国组织、个人违反正常的市场交易原则，中断与我国公民、组织的正常交易，对我国公民、组织采取歧视性措施或者实施其他行为，对我国产业链供应链安全造成实质损害或者产生实质损害威胁的，国务院有关部门有权开展产业链供应链安全调查。 调查可以采取询问有关当事人，查阅或者复制相关文件、资料以及其他必要的方式，有关当事人应当配合调查。调查期间，当事人可以陈述、申辩。根据调查结果，国务院有关部门可以对外国组织、个人采取禁止或者限制其从事与我国有关的进出口活动，禁止或者限制其在我国境内投资，禁止或者限制我国境内的组织、个人与其进行有关交易、合作等活动，禁止或者限制相关人员、交通运输工具等入境，取消或者限制相关人员在我国境内工作、停留或者居留资格等措施。有关措施可以适用于外国组织、个人实际控制或者参与设立、运营的组织.