← Daily Brief
Taiwan
Political Work
Military priorities outlined at PLA anniversary reception
China Military Online (EN)
31 July 2026
View original source ↗
Summary
Defense Minister Dong Jun delivered the keynote address at the Ministry of National Defense's August 1st anniversary reception at the Great Hall of the People, marking the PLA's 99th founding anniversary and framing 2025 as a milestone year tied to the CPC's 105th anniversary and the military's centenary modernization goals. The speech reaffirmed exclusive CMC accountability and named Taiwan separatism and foreign military interference as the primary threats — standard formulations for this venue. Its value is as an annual baseline of official messaging priorities, not as evidence of a policy shift or changed operational posture.
Translation
The Ministry of National Defense hosted a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. Admiral Dong Jun, China's minister of national defense, attended the event and delivered a speech. In his address, Dong extended festive greetings to PLA service members, armed police officers, civilian military employees, reservists and militia members. He also paid tribute to retired military personnel and the families of fallen soldiers. The minister noted that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March, and a crucial year for achieving the centenary goals of the Chinese military. Dong said that, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the military fully implements Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and remains accountable exclusively to the chairman of the Central Military Commission. He said the military will rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, advance military modernization with high quality, strengthen combat capabilities, consolidate military-civilian unity, safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and firmly oppose Taiwan separatism and foreign military interference. Dong said the Chinese military stands ready to work with all justice-loving forces around the world to safeguard regional and global peace and stability and address transnational security risks.
Original text
The Ministry of National Defense hosted a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. Admiral Dong Jun, China's minister of national defense, attended the event and delivered a speech. In his address, Dong extended festive greetings to PLA service members, armed police officers, civilian military employees, reservists and militia members. He also paid tribute to retired military personnel and the families of fallen soldiers. The minister noted that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March, and a crucial year for achieving the centenary goals of the Chinese military. Dong said that, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the military fully implements Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and remains accountable exclusively to the chairman of the Central Military Commission. He said the military will rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core, advance military modernization with high quality, strengthen combat capabilities, consolidate military-civilian unity, safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and firmly oppose Taiwan separatism and foreign military interference. Dong said the Chinese military stands ready to work with all justice-loving forces around the world to safeguard regional and global peace and stability and address transnational security risks.
