Make every penny count for combat, China’s military told in countdown to Lunar New Year

The PLA has been told to close the funding loopholes and tackle the deep flaws in combat readiness exposed by an anti-corruption drive in the aftermath of the downfall of China’s top general.In a brief Lunar New Year speech via video link to the People’s Liberation Army on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the PLA to bolster combat training and maintain a state of combat readiness, according to state broadcaster CCTV.“The past year has been unusual and extraordinary. The PLA has deepened its political rectification, effectively responded to various risks and challenges, and undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption,” Xi said, referring to a process of extreme political purification.The speech followed Beijing’s announcement last month that Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, were being investigated for suspected corruption.In an unusual move, Beijing accused Zhang and Liu of “causing great damage to the military’s combat effectiveness”, a claim rarely levelled against high-ranking military officials in the past.Since 2023, 18 generals in China have been investigated and dismissed, and at least 16 more – including the theatre command and service chiefs – have missed key meetings.