PLA Anniversary & Xi's Control over the Forces - 12 Musts of United Front Work - Commentary on Xi's Speech to Leading Cadres - Gan Lin on Anti-monopoly & Fair Competition Policies

Hi folks, glad to be back doing this, after recovering from a week of being sick. Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Monday, August 1, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.

Page 1: The entire page is dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the PLA. The lead story is about the reception that held last night. The report says that Defense Minister Wei Fenghe delivered a speech at the event. Xinhua English summarises the report well:

“Wei paid tribute to veterans and heroes who contributed to the development of people's armed forces and representatives of army role models. He also sent regards to people dedicating themselves to the front of defense-related science, technology, and industry. He expressed gratitude to Party committees, governments, and people's organizations at all levels that have unrelentingly supported the efforts to strengthen the country's national defense and armed forces. The PLA is the people's armed forces founded by the CPC, Wei said while addressing the event. Over the past 95 years, under the firm leadership of the CPC, the people's military has made indelible achievements in realizing national independence, liberating the Chinese people, and making the country prosperous and strong, he added. The PLA has underpinned the efforts to protect the country’s national sovereignty, security and development interests, and made significant contributions to safeguarding peace and tranquility in the world, Wei said.”

Finally, this chunk is worth noting: 

“Wei Fenghe pointed out that in the new era and on the new journey, the whole army must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army, adhere to the road of strengthening the army with Chinese characteristics, accelerate the modernisation of national defence and the armed forces, strive to build a consolidated national defence and a strong people’s army commensurate with China’s international status and national security and development interests, and provide strategic support for the realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 魏凤和指出，新时代新征程上，全军必须以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻习近平强军思想，坚持走中国特色强军之路，加快国防和军队现代化，努力建设同我国国际地位相称、同国家安全和发展利益相适应的巩固国防和强大人民军队，为实现中华民族伟大复兴提供战略支撑.

At the top of the page, is a piece informing us about Qiushi publishing excerpts from Xi’s speech at the 90th anniversary of the PLA. The article makes the following points:

• The historical experience of the PLA is the result of arduous exploration that needs to be carried forward

• The historical development of the PLA is driven by loyalty and responsibility

• The Chinese people’s liberation depends on a heroic PLA; therefore, in order to realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and a better life for the Chinese people, it is necessary to accelerate the building of the PLA into a world-class army

“The PLA has gone from victory to victory, demonstrating the great power of the CPC's leadership, ideals and beliefs, reform and innovation, fighting spirit, revolutionary discipline and unity between the military and the people. History informs us that ‘the Party commands the gun’ is the fundamental guarantee for maintaining the essence and purpose of the people’s army—it is an irrefutable truth that our Party has arrived at in the struggle between blood and fire; lofty ideals and beliefs are the spiritual strength of the people's army to forge ahead bravely; Reform, innovation and keeping pace with the times are the pathways for the continuous development of the people’s army; war is not only a material contest, but also a spiritual contest; strengthen the sense of discipline, and the revolution will be invincible; with the will, support and strength of the people, the PLA will be invincible…” 人民军队从胜利走向胜利，彰显了中国共产党领导的伟大力量，彰显了理想信念的伟大力量，彰显了改革创新的伟大力量，彰显了战斗精神的伟大力量，彰显了革命纪律的伟大力量，彰显了军民团结的伟大力量。历史告诉我们，党指挥枪是保持人民军队本质和宗旨的根本保障，这是我们党在血与火的斗争中得出的颠扑不破的真理；崇高理想信念是人民军队勇往直前的精神力量；改革创新、与时俱进，是人民军队不断发展的康庄大道；战争不仅是物质的较量，更是精神的比拼；加强纪律性，革命无不胜；有了民心所向、民意所归、民力所聚，人民军队就能无往而不胜、无敌于天下.

The next paragraph talks about what has been done since the 18th Party Congress. Of course, this is pre-Xi Jinping Thought times, but let’s look at the priorities that were outlined back then. 

The article emphasised that, in order to strengthen the military:

• We must not waver from the principle of the absolute leadership of the Party over the military, and ensure that the people’s army will always follow the Party.

• We must uphold and develop the party's theory guiding the military, and constantly open up a new realm in the development of Marxist military theory and contemporary Chinese military practice.

• We must at all times focus on battle readiness, so as to forge a powerful army that comes when it is called, is ready for battle when it comes, and is victorious in battle.

• We must persist in building the armed forces politically, reforming and strengthening the army, rejuvenating the armed forces through science and technology, governing the armed forces according to law, and comprehensively improving the level of modernisation of national defence and the armed forces.

• We must further promote the development of integration of defence and civilian technologies, and build a national strategic system and capacity of military-civilian integration

• We must remain committed to the fundamental principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, forever being an army that has the trust, support, and love of the people

​​推进强军事业，必须毫不动摇坚持党对军队的绝对领导，确保人民军队永远跟党走；必须坚持和发展党的军事指导理论，不断开拓马克思主义军事理论和当代中国军事实践发展新境界；必须始终聚焦备战打仗，锻造召之即来、来之能战、战之必胜的精兵劲旅；必须坚持政治建军、改革强军、科技兴军、依法治军，全面提高国防和军队现代化水平；必须深入推进军民融合发展，构建军民一体化的国家战略体系和能力；必须坚持全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，始终做人民信赖、人民拥护、人民热爱的子弟兵。

Third, there’s an editorial marking the PLA’s 95th anniversary. The article says that:

“A strong country must have a strong army, and a strong army can lead to national security. To uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must coordinate development and security, enrich the country and strengthen the armed forces, and ensure that the modernisation of national defence and the armed forces is in line with the country's modernisation process, and military capabilities are in line with the country’s strategic needs.” 强国必须强军，军强才能国安。坚持和发展中国特色社会主义，实现中华民族伟大复兴，必须统筹发展和安全、富国和强军，确保国防和军队现代化进程同国家现代化进程相适应，军事能力同国家战略需求相适应.

It adds that since the 18th Party Congress, under the strong leadership of the Party, the PLA has achieved changes in terms of a new system, new structure, new pattern and new look. It has achieved  holistic revolutionary remodelling, and has regrouped and started again. On the road of strengthening the army with Chinese characteristics, we have continued to write a new chapter of the times, showing a new style of the times. It has defended national sovereignty, security and development interests with an indomitable fighting spirit and practical actions. After ten years of hard work, the cause of strengthening the military has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes. The most fundamental reason behind this is the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army. Practice has eloquently proved that with General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party at the helm, our Party will have an incomparably strong will to advance, the cause of the Party and the people will have the direction, confidence and strength to continue to advance. 在党的坚强领导下，人民军队体制一新、结构一新、格局一新、面貌一新，实现整体性革命性重塑、重整行装再出发，在中国特色强军之路上续写了新的时代篇章，焕发出新的时代风采，以顽强斗争精神和实际行动捍卫了国家主权、安全、发展利益。十年砥砺奋进，强军事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，最根本在于以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导，在于习近平强军思想的科学指引。实践雄辩地证明，有习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心掌舵领航，我们党就有无比强大的前进定力，党和人民事业就有最根本的保障，人民军队就有继续前进的方向、信心和力量.

The article then reiterates the importance of the “Party’s absolute leadership over the PLA.” The next paragraph says that:

“Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. China is in a critical period to realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Our party is leading the people in a great struggle with many new historical characteristics. Standing at a new historical starting point, we feel more deeply that the Chinese nation’s liberation depends on a heroic people’s army. To realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and a better life for the Chinese people, we must accelerate the building of the people's army into a world-class army.” 当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，我国正处于实现中华民族伟大复兴关键时期，我们党正带领人民进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争。站在新的历史起点上，我们更加深切地感受到，中华民族走出苦难、中国人民实现解放，有赖于一支英雄的人民军队；中华民族实现伟大复兴，中国人民实现更加美好生活，必须加快把人民军队建设成为世界一流军队.

Later the piece talks about the PLA’s centenary in 2027, saying that in order to “continuously push forward the cause of strengthening the armed forces in the new era, we must fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army, the armed forces’ strategic policy in the new era, the new ‘three-phase’ strategic arrangement of national defence and armed forces modernisation (i.e., the goals for 2027, 2035 & 2049), and adhere to the road of strengthening the armed forces with Chinese characteristics.” 把新时代强军事业不断推向前进，必须全面贯彻习近平强军思想，贯彻新时代军事战略方针，贯彻国防和军队现代化新“三步走”战略安排，坚持走中国特色强军之路。

“Unswervingly adhere to the fundamental principle and system of the Party's absolute leadership over the people’s army, comprehensively promote political building of the armed forces, reform and strengthening the armed forces with science and technology, strengthen the armed forces with talents, and govern the armed forces according to law; always focus on preparing for war, forge a strong army of elite soldiers who can fight when they are called, and win wars; forge a strong army with iron faith, discipline, and sense of responsibility, and build a strong army commensurate with China’s international status and national security and development interests…” 毫不动摇坚持党对人民军队绝对领导的根本原则和制度，全面推进政治建军、改革强军、科技强军、人才强军、依法治军，始终聚焦备战打仗，锻造召之即来、来之能战、战之必胜的精兵劲旅，锻造具有铁一般信仰、铁一般信念、铁一般纪律、铁一般担当的过硬部队，建设同我国国际地位相称、同国家安全和发展利益相适应的巩固国防和强大人民军队...

The editorial ends with talk about the need to unite behind the Central Committee with Xi at the core. It also reiterates the Two Establishments, the two safeguards and the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences.

Finally, there’s a really long piece reviewing national defence work under Xi Jinping. The first achievement highlighted is the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army. The piece informs that the Party’s goal for military development in the new era is to build the PLA into world-class forces that obey the Party’s command, that are able to fight and to win, and that maintain excellent conduct. “Obeying the Party’s command is the soul, winning battles is the core, and a good work style is the guarantee.” 听党指挥是灵魂，能打胜仗是核心，作风优良是保证.

The next section of the article talks about ensuring the Party’s command over the army. In this, the article discusses  the 2014 Gutian conference. The piece then says:

At the 19th Party Congress, ‘upholding the Party’s absolute leadership over the people's army’ was upgraded as a basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era; reforms carried out in terms of national defence and the armed forces have further consolidated and improved the fundamental principles and systems of the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces through a series of institutional designs and arrangements. The whole armed forces have persisted in arming officers and soldiers with the Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army, and have persisted in ideological and political building of the armed forces, firmly establishing ideals and beliefs, the principle of Party spirit, the standard of combat effectiveness, and the prestige of political work, deepening education on the spirit of the military and continuously laying the ideological and political foundation for officers and soldiers to hold high the banner, obey the Party’s command, and fulfil their missions. 党的十九大把“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；国防和军队改革通过一系列体制设计和制度安排，把党对军队绝对领导的根本原则和制度进一步固化下来并加以完善……全军部队坚持不懈用习近平强军思想武装官兵，各级坚持从思想上政治上建设军队，把理想信念、党性原则、战斗力标准、政治工作威信牢固立起来，深入抓好军魂教育，持续打牢官兵高举旗帜、听党指挥、履行使命的思想政治基础.

Later the piece informs that: “Obeying Chairman Xi’s command, being responsible to Chairman Xi and reassuring Chairman Xi has become the conscious action of officers and soldiers across the whole army.” 　“听习主席指挥、对习主席负责、让习主席放心”，成为全军官兵的自觉行动.

“In view of the serious political risks faced by our army in the period before the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chairman Xi turned the tide, addressed the danger to ensure stability (扶危定倾), ensured a turnaround through the exercise comprehensive and strict self-governance over the Party, and did not ease in the strict and comprehensive governance of the armed forces, thereby saving the people’s army.” 针对党的十八大之前一个时期我军面临的严重政治风险，习主席力挽狂澜、扶危定倾，扭住全面从严治党、全面从严治军不放松，挽救了人民军队.

The article then references the cases of Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Fang Fenghui, Zhang Yang and other serious violations of discipline and law, arguing that these had been dealt with and that “their influence has been thoroughly eliminated, and the political ecology of the people's army has been fundamentally improved.” 

The next section talks about the goal of building a world-class armed forces. This briefly talks about some of the administrative and military reforms, the focus on technology and innovation and strengthening the forces through talents. The final section talks about safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, along with the emphasis on combat effectiveness, winning wars, and China’s global ambitions.

Page 2: Two pieces to note on the page. First, there’s a commentary drawing from Xi’s speech to provincial and ministerial-level officials last week. The commentary offers a positive appraisal of China’s development over the past decade and then reiterates some of Xi’s comments. The piece says that the past five years “have been unusual and extraordinary.” 

It says that with the grandeur, foresight and grand strategy of a Marxist statesman, thinker and strategist, General Secretary Xi Jinping has planned keeping in mind the overall situation at home and abroad; he has promoted reform, development and stability, domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and national defence; he has managed the governance of the party, the country and the army, and proposed major strategies in a timely manner, made major decisions, deployed major tasks, led the entire Party, the army, and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to strengthen confidence, face difficulties, fully implement the Party’s basic line and strategy; he has taken a series of strategic measures and promoted a series of transformative practices; a series of breakthroughs have been achieved, a series of landmark achievements have been made, many long-standing unsolved problems and many important events with long-term implications have been completed; the Party has withstood the test of risks and challenges in areas of politics, economy, ideology, nature and other aspects; he has fully demonstrated the political wisdom, strategic determination, mission responsibility, feelings for the people, and leadership skills of the leader of a major political party and major power. The most fundamental reason for the historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the Party and the country is that General Secretary Xi Jinping has been at the helm as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, along with the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 党的十八大以来这10年在党和国家事业发展进程中极不寻常、极不平凡，党面临形势环境的复杂性和严峻性、肩负任务的繁重性和艰巨性世所罕见、史所罕见。习近平总书记以马克思主义政治家、思想家、战略家的恢弘气魄、远见卓识、雄韬伟略，谋划国内外大局，推进改革发展稳定、内政外交国防、治党治国治军工作，及时提出重大战略，作出重大决策，部署重大任务，领导全党全军全国各族人民坚定信心、迎难而上，全面贯彻党的基本路线、基本方略，采取一系列战略性举措，推进一系列变革性实践，实现一系列突破性进展，取得一系列标志性成果，攻克了许多长期没有解决的难题，办成了许多事关长远的大事要事，经受住了来自政治、经济、意识形态、自然界等方面的风险挑战考验，充分展现了大党大国领袖的政治智慧、战略定力、使命担当、为民情怀、领导艺术. 党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，最根本的原因在于有习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心掌舵领航，在于有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引.

The next paragraph says that:

“Practice has fully proved that resolutely safeguarding the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party is the key to building consensus and making decisive decisions at critical moments; it is an important guarantee for Party unity and victory. The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and established the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common aspiration of the whole party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups in the country and is of decisive significance for advancing the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. On the way forward, we must deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses, strengthen the four self-confidences, achieve the two safeguards, and grasp the principles, global outlook and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, adhere to and make good use of the standpoint, viewpoint and method running through it…” 实践充分证明，坚决维护党中央的核心、全党的核心是党在重大时刻凝聚共识、果断抉择的关键，是党团结统一、胜利前进的重要保证。党确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，反映了全党全军全国各族人民共同心愿，对新时代党和国家事业发展、对推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程具有决定性意义。前进道路上，我们要深刻领悟“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”，把握好习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法，在新时代新征程上展现新气象新作为，继续把中华民族伟大复兴的历史伟业推向前进.

The final paragraph calls for uniting behind the Central Committee with Xi as the core.

Next, there’s a piece with enthusiastic responses from cadres and workers at centrally-managed enterprises, centrally-managed financial enterprises and centrally-managed colleges and universities to Xi’s speech to provincial and ministerial-level officials.

Page 3: There’s a commentary drawing from Xi’s comments at the Central United Front Work Conference last week. Xinhua English published a detailed report on Xi’s remarks.

Anyway, the commentary says that on the new journey, “China’s development faces new strategic opportunities, new strategic tasks, new strategic stages, new strategic requirements and new strategic environment.” 新的伟大征程上，我们清醒看到，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变的特征更加明显，我国发展面临新的战略机遇、新的战略任务、新的战略阶段、新的战略要求、新的战略环境. It adds that the United Front is a “magic weapon” given the arduous nature of the tasks that lie ahead. 

The piece then quotes this bit from the reporting on the conference:

“Xi stressed that great changes have taken place in terms of the opportunities and circumstances united front work faces as well as the missions and tasks it shoulders. As profound changes unseen in a century are evolving rapidly in the world, the united front plays an even more important role in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. On our journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects and realize national rejuvenation, the united front plays an even more prominent role in focusing on the central task and serving the country's overall interests. As the structure of our society is undergoing a profound change, the united front plays an even more important role in bolstering the Party's class foundation and expanding public support for it. We must thoroughly understand the significance of developing and expanding the patriotic united front in the new era and effectively perform our duties with a strong sense of mission and responsibility.”

The next paragraph discusses the basic tasks of united front work. This is again from the reporting on Xi’s speech.

“Xi defined the main tasks of the patriotic united front in the new era as follows: to follow the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and uphold the CPC's leadership; to adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and hold high the great banner of patriotism and socialism; to balance commonality and diversity, focus on the central task of economic development and serve the overall interests of the country; to advance with the times and innovate on the basis of what has worked in the past; to strengthen theoretical and political guidance, and fulfill the political function of gathering support and pooling strength; to promote harmony between different political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social strata, as well as our compatriots at home and abroad; to promote concerted endeavor of Chinese people at home and abroad and bring together powerful strength for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

This, the commentary, tells us, is a “scientific plan put together in order to accurately grasp the historical orientation of the patriotic united front in the new era, and a strategic plan based on the overall development of the party and the country.” 这是准确把握新时代爱国统一战线历史方位作出的科学谋划，是立足党和国家事业发展全局作出的战略部署.

Next, there’s a report (English report) on You Quan’s comments at the Central United Front Work Conference. He described Xi’s speech as “profound” and a “programmatic document filled with the power of Marxist truth, which points out the direction and provides fundamental guidelines for the development and growth of the patriotic united front in the new era.” He added that Xi’s “important thought on doing a good job in the Party’s united front work in the new era has achieved a new leap in the sinicization of Marxist theory on united front work and was the most important theoretical achievement of the conference.” 习近平总书记的重要讲话高屋建瓴、视野宏阔、思想深邃，是一篇充满马克思主义真理力量的纲领性文献，为新时代爱国统一战线发展壮大指明了方向、提供了根本遵循。尤权强调，习近平总书记关于做好新时代党的统一战线工作的重要思想，实现了马克思主义统一战线理论中国化新的飞跃，是这次会议最重要的理论成果.

You also referred to the 12 musts in Xi’s speech, which he says embody the “essence of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and provide ideological weapons and action guides for the in-depth development of united front work in the new era.” “十二个必须”作为一个内涵丰富、逻辑严密、系统完备的有机整体，体现了辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义的精髓，为新时代统战工作的深入开展提供了思想武器和行动指南.

These are:

• we must give full play to the role of the united front as an important means; 

• we must secure support of the people and pool strength for our cause; 

• we must strike the right balance between commonality and diversity; 

• we must uphold, develop and improve China's new model of political party system; 

• we must make fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation the main task in the Party's work related to ethnic affairs; 

• we must develop religions in the Chinese context; 

• we must foster close bonds with non-CPC intellectuals and personages from new social strata; 

• we must facilitate the healthy growth of the non-public sector of the economy and encourage those working in this sector to achieve success; 

• we must exert the role of united front work to win hearts and minds of people in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese; 

• we must strengthen the ranks of non-CPC representative figures; 

• we must grasp the laws governing united front work; and 

• we must enhance the Party's overall leadership over united front work.

He further “called for efforts to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience and achievements, major theoretical innovation, policies, and institutional arrangements of the conference to demonstrate the advantages and features of China’s new model of political party system and advance the united front work and the CPC-led system of multi-party cooperation. You called on non-CPC political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and prominent figures without party affiliation to actively study, publicize, and translate into action the conference's spirit, better fulfill their duties, and enhance the prevention of relevant risks.”

Finally, a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov. Xinhua reports:

“Kyrgyzstan and China have set an example of good-neighborliness and friendship among neighboring countries, said Zhaparov. Kyrgyzstan will continue to stand firmly with China on all issues concerning China's core interests, he said, adding that the country stands ready to deepen the alignment of their development strategies, expand cooperation in economy, trade and investment between the two countries, and advance people-to-people exchanges as well as cooperation at local levels. The Kyrgyz side regards the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as an important link in building the Belt and Road, the president noted, saying that his country thanks China for sending experts to do field study and is eager to advance this state-level cooperation project in an accelerated manner.”

Wang Yi said that “China will continue to firmly support Kyrgyzstan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, resolutely oppose any interference in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs, and will always be a trustworthy and reliable partner of Kyrgyzstan.” He added that “the condition for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is getting ripe…The first batch of Chinese experts have arrived in Kyrgyzstan recently for site survey, and the construction process has kicked off, he said, adding that China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to speed up the feasibility study. China is also ready to steadily advance cooperation in various fields and provide assistance to the best of its ability in accordance with the needs of Kyrgyzstan’s national development and improvement of people's livelihood, said Wang.”

Zhaparov then backed the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

Page 4: There’s a report on the publication of 12 new individuals who have been recognised as model revolutionary soldiers in the new era. The Central Propaganda Department and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission released the list. The 12 individuals are: Zhang Zebin, Wang Daobin, Li Xin, Chen Song, Li Wei, Yu Hailong, He Xianda, Tang Wuxiang, Zhou Feihu, Ping Zhiwei, Yi Shihe, and Yang Yougang. The purpose of honouring these individuals is not simply recognition but also publicising them as exemplars for others.

Page 11: On the theory page, the lead article is by Zhao Zhouxian, from the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the National Defense University. Zhao writes about the PLA’s anniversary. There’s nothing really new here from what I’ve already covered above. He talks about the reforms undertaken over the past few years, emphasises the Party’s command over the forces, “maintaining loyalty to the core,” studying Party history, and emphasises combat effectiveness and the importance of science, technology and self-reliance.

Page 12: There’s a piece by Gan Lin 甘霖, who is the deputy director of SAMR and the Director of the State Anti-Monopoly Bureau. She writes about the implementation of anti-monopoly and fair competition policies; of course, China’s new amended Anti-Monopoly Law comes into effect today.

She writes that:

Fair competition is the core of the market economy, and a fair competition system is an important aspect of building a high-standard market system. Accelerating the improvement of the socialist market economic system requires the establishment of a unified national system of fair competition, which is the cornerstone of the rule of law of the market economy. Based on China’s basic socialist economic system and development practice, amending the anti-monopoly law in a timely manner, clarifying that the state adheres to the principle of marketisation and rule of law, strengthening the basic position of competition policy, and improving the rules of the anti-monopoly legal system are conducive to creating a fair, transparent and predictable environment, and ensuring that all kinds of market players compete on the same stage and compete fairly in a unified national market.” 公平竞争是市场经济的核心，公平竞争制度是建设高标准市场体系的重要内容。加快完善社会主义市场经济体制，要求建立全国统一的公平竞争制度，筑牢公平竞争这一市场经济的法治基石。立足我国社会主义基本经济制度和发展实践，及时修改反垄断法，明确国家坚持市场化、法治化原则，强化竞争政策基础地位，完善反垄断法律制度规则，有利于营造公平透明可预期的良好环境，保障各类市场主体在全国统一大市场中同台竞技、公平竞争.

Promoting high-quality development inevitably requires high-level competition, and only high-level competition can promote high-quality development. After more than 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has become the second largest economy in the world, with the advantages of a super-large economy. It is necessary to improve the anti-monopoly legal system in time, effectively break the monopolistic barriers that hinder the rational allocation of production factors and the free circulation of goods and services, smooth and efficient domestic circulation, build a prosperous domestic market, give full play to the innovative incentive and survival of the fittest functions of the market competition mechanism, and enhance the innovation and competitiveness of the economy.” 推动高质量发展必然要求高水平竞争，只有高水平竞争才能推动高质量发展。经过改革开放40多年的发展，我国已经是世界第二大经济体，拥有超大规模经济体优势。要及时完善反垄断法律制度，有效破除妨碍生产要素合理配置和商品服务自由流通的垄断障碍，畅通高效的国内大循环、构建繁荣的国内大市场，充分发挥市场竞争机制的创新激励和优胜劣汰功能，增强经济的创新力和竞争力.

“Fair competition is an important foundation of international economic and trade exchanges, and a fair competition system is an important part of international economic and trade rules. To build a new open economic system at a higher level, it is necessary to actively adapt to the logic of evolution and trend of the rules related to international opening, continuously deepen institutional opening in the field of competition, and build an anti-monopoly legal system that is based on China’s development reality and connected with prevailing international high-standard rules, so as to enhance the attractiveness of China’s super-large-scale market through fair competition, attract more international resources and elements into China, and create more growth opportunities for economic development.” 公平竞争是国际经贸往来的重要基础，公平竞争制度是国际经贸规则的重要内容。建设更高水平开放型经济新体制，需要积极主动适应国际开放规则的演变逻辑和趋势，不断深化竞争领域制度型开放，构建既立足我国发展实际、又与国际高标准通行规则对接的反垄断法律制度，以公平竞争增强我国超大规模市场吸引力，吸引更多的国际资源和要素进入中国，为经济发展创造更多增长机会.

In the next section, she talks about the revisions to the law, outlining key objectives of the law.

• Correctly handle the relationship between the government and the market. This entails regulatory clarity and preventing administrative abuse. She writes that it is important to “pay equal attention to preventing market monopoly and breaking administrative monopoly, create a broader market space and a better competitive environment for the development of various market players, and improve the overall competitive quality and level of the market economy.” 要坚持防止市场垄断和打破行政性垄断并重，为各类市场主体发展创造更加广阔的市场空间和更加优良的竞争环境，提高市场经济整体竞争质量和水平。

• Correctly handle the relationship between supervision and development. In this she argues that it is important to “pay equal attention to regulatory norms and promote development, adhere to the ‘two unwaverings’, firmly establish the awareness that ‘supervision is to promote higher-quality development, and development cannot be separated from more scientific and effective supervision’... 要坚持监管规范和促进发展并重，坚持“两个毫不动摇”，牢固树立“监管是为了促进更高质量的发展，发展也离不开更加科学有效的监管”意识...

• Correctly handle the relationship between competition and innovation. In this, she writes that the revision to the law included ‘encouraging innovation’ as the legislative purpose of the anti-monopoly law, and made special provisions for anti-monopoly supervision in the digital economy sector, further improving the legal system and rules.” 此次修改将“鼓励创新”纳入反垄断法的立法目的，对数字经济领域反垄断监管作出专门规定，进一步完善了法律制度规则。 Basically, the objective of the law is to spur innovation and not stifle it.

• Correctly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness, promote the coordinated development of large, medium and small enterprises and enhance people’s livelihood and well-being. 正确处理效率和公平的关系，促进大中小企业协同发展和增进民生福祉. In this, she says that one of goals is to prevent and stop the behaviours of enterprises that squeeze the development space of small and medium-sized enterprises owing to the profit-seeking impulse, thereby harming the interests of the people.

Going ahead, she promises to :

• improve legislation supporting anti-monopoly work. In addition, she talks about the formulation of anti-monopoly guidelines in key industries and fields that are key to the national economy and people's livelihood, have experienced frequent competition-related problems, and are of significant concern to the society.

• Strengthen anti-monopoly supervision and enforcement in key areas

• Accelerate the establishment of a high-level competition policy system for bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, strengthen anti-monopoly exchanges and cooperation with BRI countries, and build a high-level international exchange and cooperation platform for fair competition. Actively participate in global competition governance, and move from a recipient and follower of rules to a rule-maker.

• Improve the mechanism for implementing policies on fair competition and make competition governance more effective. In this, she points to the importance of paying more attention to the system being rule-driven as opposed to functioning on a case-to-case basis.