China will reduce the number of its army servicemen by 200,000 before the year of 2005, the country's State Council and Central Military Commission said.

On Tuesday, CMC (Central Military Commission) chairman Jiang Zemin said in Beijing that reform within China's military arena would continue, for the purpose of improving the army's mobility, competitiveness and combating ability.

Jiang, together with Chinese President and CMC vice-chairman Hu Jintao meeting delegates at a conference on restructuring the state's military academies, called for further military reform with "Chinese characteristics", in order to enable its army to "win battles in the information war".

CMC's other two vice-chairmen Guo Boxiong and Cao Gangchuan, who is also China's defense minister, were also at the event yesterday.

Under unified arrangement of the CMC, China's army downsizing will be fully launched by the end of 2003, with the aim of cutting 200,000 men before the year of 2005, Xinhua news agency quoted an unidentified official as saying. Redundant servicemen will be released from active service, including compulsory men and officers who haven't completed their term yet.

Out of the needs of army downsizing, part of compulsory servicemen and officers will be released before their due retirement time according to notices issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC), the official responsible for the retirement work from the Headquarters of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.

Redundant servicemen will be released from active service, including compulsory men and officers who haven't completed their term, the official disclosed.

The restructuring of military schools in China was a component part of the country's military reform, Jiang Zemin said, urging all institutions and individuals involved to ensure it went smoothly. Jiang is China's former President.

Military academies were the major bases for training military talent, innovating military theories, and developing military technology, Jiang said.

He urged military academies to support and participate in the restructuring by focusing on politics, recognizing the general situation of the country, and abiding by the disciplines.

Jiang also called for Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three Represents" to be taken as the guidance for implementing the restructuring of military academies and beefing up efforts to foster and train military talent.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+China to reduce 200,000 servicemen by 2005 ( 2003-11-05) +Surge in grain prices no surprise ( 2003-11-04) +Officials praise direct elections in villages ( 2003-11-04) +China continues effort to broker next phase of 6-party dialogue ( 2003-11-04) +Ties with Pakistan to expand ( 2003-11-04)		+China to reduce 200,000 servicemen by 2005 ( 2003-11-05) +China continues effort to broker next phase of 6-party dialogue ( 2003-11-04) +China-Pakistan joint declaration on bilateral cooperation ( 2003-11-05) +Mounting death toll from fire ( 2003-11-05) +Jiang Zemin calls for further military reform ( 2003-11-04)