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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