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China’s fourth plenum
ChinaMilitary

PLA urged to ‘live a tight life’ as top officials elaborate on China’s 5-year plan

Senior Chinese general calls for cutting training, management and equipment support costs while improving procurement

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A foot formation marches through Tiananmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, China on September 3. Photo: Xinhua
Alcott Weiin Beijing

A senior Chinese general has called for the military to be prepared to “live a tight life” and cut costs on multiple fronts in an elaboration of the 15th five-year plan.

The remarks by Qiu Yang, deputy director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission, were made in an article published last week and included in a supplementary reader for the Communist Party’s policy recommendations on the five-year plan covering 2026-2030. The recommendations were issued following the closing of the fourth plenum of the party’s Central Committee last month.

The reader is a collection of articles by senior officials to elaborate on the policy recommendations issued by the party.

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In the article, Qiu, whose office is responsible for helping President Xi Jinping manage various military units, called for a higher-quality, more efficient, and sustainable development model for military modernisation.

The article said the military should improve its military procurement system and reduce the costs of training, management and equipment support. It also called on the military to be prepared to “live a tight life”.

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The article stated that efficient development and innovation were key measures to gain the strategic advantage in international military competition.

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