Army to smash any independence plot: Minister

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan gives a speech at the grand reception to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in the Great Hall of the People July 31.(Xinhua Photo)

The National Defense Ministry of the People's Republic of China held a grand reception in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 31, warmly celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). General Cao Gangchuan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and concurrently minister of national defense proposed a toast.

General Xu Caihou, member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, member of the Central Military Commission and head of the General Political Department; General Liang Guanglie, chief of the general staff; General Liao Xilong, member of the Central Military Commission, head of the General Logistics Department; and General Li Jinai, member of the Central Military Commission and head of the General Armaments Department, attended the reception.

A festival happy atmosphere prevailed in the brightly-lit and beautifully-decorated Great Hall of the People. At the center of the curtain on the rostrum was hung a huge "Aug. 1" army emblem and 10 bright red flags on both sides. The eye-catching big characters "1927-2004" show that the PLA has traversed a glorious course of 77 years.

The reception began at 5:00 pm amidst the majestic army anthem. Cao Gangchuan proposed a toast to Chinese and foreign guests. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and Central Military Commission, he first extended festival congratulations to all officers and men of the PLA and the armed police and armymen and reserve force and the broad masses of militia; and heartfelt greetings to comrades working hard on the national defense science, technology and industry fronts; cordial regards to retired veterans who have made important contributions to Chinese army building, demobilized soldiers, the disabled and families of martyrs and armymen; and sincere thanks to Party and government institutions, social organizations and people of various ethnic groups of the country who are concerned about and support army construction; and expressed warm welcome to military attaches and their wives from various countries to China as well as to all guests.

Cao said that under the correct leadership of the Communist Party of China, the cause of China's reform, opening up and modernization drive has witnessed vigorous development, as evidenced by the sustained and rapid growth of the national economy, all-round progress of social undertakings and the continued improvement of people's living standards. New advancements have been gained in national defense and army modernization construction. All Chinese army units have set off a new upsurge in studying and implementing the important thought of "three represents"and, centered around the goal of building an information-oriented army and winning an information-based war, have continued to push forward adjustment and reform of the system of organization and establishment, widely carry out science- and technology-related training, strengthen national defense scientific research and construction of weaponry, deepen reform of logistics guarantee, resulting in the further improvement of the PLA's defense and operational capabilities. The complete success of China's first manned space flight, in particular, has greatly inspired the national spirit, marking the further enhancement of China's overall national strength and science and technology power. Cao pointed out that with the accelerated development of the current world's new military changes, China's national defense and army modernization construction has entered a new stage of development. In the face of the new situations and tasks, officers and soldiers of the whole army should enhance their sense of mission and responsibility, strengthen all-round construction of army units, successfully fulfill various tasks, so as to provide strong and effective guarantee for national security and unification and the building of moderately prosperous society in an all-round manner.

The defense minister stressed that we should unswervingly put ideological and political construction in the first place in all aspects of the construction of the army, firmly establish the "three represents" important thought in the guiding position of army building, adhere to the fundamental principles and basic system concerning the absolute leadership of the Party over the army, reinforce the ideals and convictions of officers and men, and always keep the nature, true qualities and working styles of the people's army.

Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan proposes a toast at the grand reception to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in the Great Hall of the People July 31, 2004. (newsphoto)

Cao pointed out that we should actively advance the military change with Chinese characteristics, and strive to bring about a leapfrog development in the modernization of our army. We should step up the study of military theory and give full play to the guiding role of military theory. We should thoroughly implement the strategy of building a powerful army through science and technology, and rely on scientific and technological progress to promote our army's qualitative construction. We should strengthen military training and enhance our combat effectiveness under the condition of informationization. We should energetically develop advanced weaponry and equipment and enhance the material and technological foundation for our army's construction and our national defense strength. We should intensify effort for logistics reform and improve and ensure quality and efficiency. We should implement the talent strategic project, train and bring up a large batch of high-quality new military personnel. We should administrate the army lawfully and strictly, establish and perfect a military statutory system, strictly implement ordinances, and rules and regulations, and constantly raise the regularization level of our army.

The defense minister noted that we should vigorously strengthen national defense mobilization and construction, adhere to the principle for integration of army and civilian and of peacetime and wartime and letting soldiers take root among the people, deepen the reform of the national defense mobilization system, pay attention to strengthening construction of reserve forces and enhance the capabilities of quick-mobilization and successful fulfillment of tasks. We should carry out in-depth national defense education to enhance the whole people's national defense awareness. Conscientious efforts should be made to do a good job in the work of supporting the government and cherishing the people and supporting the army and giving preferential treatment to the families of armymen and martyrs, and consolidate and develop the excellent situation featuring unity between the army and government and between the army and civilians. Active efforts are required to participate in and support the country's economic construction and thereby make new contributions to reform, development and stability.

Cao said that in today's world, peace and development remain the theme of the times. Seeking peace, strengthening cooperation and making common progress are the general wishes of the world's people. However, the world is by no means in peace and tranquility. The international situation is complicated and volatile, unstable factors still exist. Traditional security and non-traditional security are intertwined with each other, local wars and armed conflicts occur from time to time, activities of terrorist, separatist and extremist forces are running rampant with each passing day. We must be prepared for danger in times of peace and must always be on the alert.

The defense minister pointed out that the Chinese people love peace ardently and constitute an important force safeguarding world peace and stability. We will, as always, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and are willing, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, to develop friendly cooperative relations with the people and armies of various countries around the world, thereby making positive contributions to the defense of world peace and promotion of common development.

Cao stressed that solving the Taiwan issue and realizing complete reunification of the motherland is where the fundamental interests of all the Chinese people, including the Taiwan compatriots, lie. "Taiwan independence" spells no peace, and separation brings no stability. We will continue to adhere to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", and strive for a prospect of the peaceful reunification of the motherland with the utmost sincerity and the greatest effort, but we will never allow any one to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any form. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are paramount to all else, the will of the 1.3 billion Chinese people must not be going against. If "Taiwan independence"divisive forces obstinately cling to their course, the Chinese People's Liberation Army has the determination and capability to resolutely smash any "Taiwan independence" separatist schemes.

Cao finally indicated that it is still a long-term, arduous task to attain the strategic goal of China's national defense and army modernization construction. Let us rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary, hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, comprehensively implement the "three represents" important thought, boost our morale, work in a down-to-earth manner, make explorations and progress and strive to raise the construction work of revolutionization, modernization and regularization of our army to a new level.

Attending the reception were also leading members from the four general departments of the PLA, from various work units in Beijing, the general department of the armed police and from the General Office of the Central Military Commission; the responsible persons from relevant departments of the State Council, Beijing Municipality and Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; representatives of retired cadres in Beijing, responsible members from concerned department of army units, heroes and heroines, and model workers of army units, militia of the capital, families of servicemen and martyrs, representatives of former Kuomintang uprising participants, etc.

Military attaches and their wives from various foreign embassies in China were also invited to attend the reception.

In a telephone conversation with US President George W. Bush, Chinese President Hu Jintao also urged the United States not to sell arms to the island. Hu told Bush on Friday that Beijing opposed US sales of sophisticated weapons to Taiwan.

He told the American leader that the situation across the Taiwan Strait was very sensitive and complicated, and the two sides should "act resolutely" against Taiwan independence.

By People's Daily Online