Keywords: China, PLA, Xi Jinping Mr. Xi also carried out the biggest anti-corruption drive to cleanse the party in which thousands of officials have faced punishment. Reorganised from top to bottom by Mr. Xi in the last four years, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — the world’s largest — is bracing for major showdowns in its increasingly volatile neighbourhood. While firming up his grip on the military, Mr. Xi also stepped up PLA’s reorganisation and brought the entire command and control under the Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body headed by him. On April 20, Mr. Xi appeared in public with a new title — commander-in-chief of the newly-established CMC joint battle command centre which he inspected on the day dressed in camouflage fatigues.

Source: The Hindu July 30, 2016 12:22 UTC