Chinese President focuses communist control over army

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Chinese President focuses communist control over army

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Hu Jintao called on the 2.3 million-member force to develop advanced military culture.

29 January,2012 09:15 am

Chinese President Hu Jintao is stressing the ruling Communist Partys ultimate control over Chinas rapidly modernizing military.Hus assertion came Sunday in a statement in the militarys Liberation Army Daily newspaper calling on the 2.3 million-member force to develop advanced military culture. That is communist shorthand for retaining a leading role for socialist ideology.Such calls seek to counter any movement toward nationalizing the force by making it ultimately responsible to the government rather than the party.The Peoples Liberation Army has in recent years acquired latest-generation jet fighters and other advanced equipment. Last year it began sea trials for its first aircraft carrier.