Annual Training Launched

On January 3, President Xi Jinping, also Chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks at a grand ceremony at a shooting range in north China that marked the start of the military’s annual training activities (XINHUA)
On January 3, President Xi Jinping, also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, inspects a Ground Force division in the Central Theater Command (XINHUA)
On January 3, shortly after receiving instructions from Xi, the group of over 7,000 soldiers at the event begin training activities, including large weapons such as main battle tanks (XINHUA)
On January 5, soldiers from Shanxi Armed Police Force conduct a camp and field training exercise (XINHUA)
On January 3, the Marine Corps exercise in a naval dock in Zhanjiang, south China’s Guangdong Province (XINHUA)

The Central Military Commission (CMC) held its 2018 mobilization ceremony of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on January 3 to start the annual training. President Xi Jinping, also Chairman of the CMC, issued the instructions to the PLA. Xi urged the military to step up combat-readiness training with a view to winning modern wars.

This was the first time in the PLA's history that the top military commander had issued an order of training to all branches of the military. The days following the issuing of the instructions saw the Chinese military begin training on land, water and in the air across the country.

Copyedited by Chris Surtees

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