Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: Xinhua | July 31, 2026

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 31 — The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held its 27th group study session on the afternoon of July 30, focusing on advancing the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military. Presiding over the session, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping stressed that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China must adhere to the guidance of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the Thought on Strengthening the Military for the New Era, strengthen political guidance, and deepen innovative development, so as to advance the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military — achieving the centennial goal of army-building on schedule (the PLA's 2027 centenary target) and driving decisive progress toward the basic realization of national defense and military modernization — thereby providing firm strategic support for comprehensively advancing the great endeavor of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

新华社北京7月31日电 中共中央政治局7月30日下午就高质量推进国防和军队现代化进行第二十七次集体学习。中共中央总书记习近平在主持学习时强调，“十五五”时期，要坚持以新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻新时代强军思想，强化政治引领，深化创新发展，高质量推进国防和军队现代化，如期实现建军一百年奋斗目标，推动基本实现国防和军队现代化取得决定性进展，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强战略支撑。

This Political Bureau group study session was held on the eve of the August 1st Army Day. On behalf of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping extended holiday greetings to all officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, officers and soldiers of the People's Armed Police Force, military civilian personnel, reservists, and militia members!

这次中央政治局集体学习在八一建军节前夕举行。习近平代表党中央和中央军委，向全体人民解放军指战员、武警部队官兵、军队文职人员、预备役人员和民兵致以节日的祝贺！

Comrade Sun Zheng of the Central Military Commission Strategic Planning Office briefed the session on advancing the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military and put forward work recommendations. Members of the Political Bureau listened attentively to the briefing and held a discussion.

中央军委战略规划办公室孙正同志就高质量推进国防和军队现代化问题进行讲解，提出工作建议。中央政治局的同志认真听取讲解，并进行了讨论。

After hearing the briefing and discussion, Xi Jinping delivered important remarks. He pointed out that advancing the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military is an intrinsic requirement of advancing Chinese modernization. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee, weighing together the strategic overall picture of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, has placed strengthening and revitalizing the military in a prominent position within the Party and the country's undertakings, unwaveringly upheld and strengthened the Party's absolute leadership over the military, clearly set out the Party's goal of strengthening the military for the new era, and planned and implemented a new "Three-Step" strategy for national defense and military modernization — comprehensively advancing political army-building, reform-driven army-building, technology-driven army-building, talent-driven army-building, and rule-of-law-based army-building, while simultaneously carrying out struggle, war preparedness, and development. As a result, the military's level of modernization and combat capability have improved markedly, and the cause of strengthening the military has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformation.

习近平在听取讲解和讨论后发表重要讲话。他指出，高质量推进国防和军队现代化，是推进中国式现代化的应有之义。党的十八大以来，党中央统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，把强军兴军摆在党和国家事业的突出位置，毫不动摇坚持和加强党对军队的绝对领导，鲜明提出党在新时代的强军目标，谋划实施国防和军队现代化新“三步走”战略，全面推进政治建军、改革强军、科技强军、人才强军、依法治军，边斗争、边备战、边建设，我军现代化水平和实战能力显著提升，强军事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革。

Xi Jinping stressed that political army-building is the foundation on which the people's military is built, and bears on the direction and fundamental character of national defense and military modernization. China must uphold and strengthen the Party's absolute leadership over the military, fully implement the strategy for political army-building in the new era, strengthen theoretical grounding, deepen the rectification of thinking and conduct, and solidify the ideological foundation for officers and soldiers to heed the Party's words and follow the Party, ensuring the gun always obeys the Party's command. China must also deepen the anti-corruption fight and strengthen the oversight system for major projects, ensuring quality, capability, and integrity are all safeguarded across the board.

习近平强调，政治建军是人民军队立军之本，关乎国防和军队现代化建设方向和底色。要坚持和加强党对军队的绝对领导，全面落实新时代政治建军方略，加强理论武装，深化思想整风，打牢官兵听党话、跟党走的思想根基，确保枪杆子永远听党指挥。要深入推进反腐败斗争，健全重大项目监管体系，确保各项建设质量托底、能力托底、廉洁托底。

Xi Jinping pointed out that the fundamental orientation and criterion for testing the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military remains combat effectiveness. China must strengthen the military application of unmanned and intelligent technologies, deepen the development and use of network information systems, and progressively build an intelligentized military system. China must strengthen the integration of combat-capability systems, conduct sound realistic-combat-condition assessments, solidly advance troop training and war preparedness, and effectively safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

习近平指出，高质量推进国防和军队现代化，根本指向和检验标准始终是战斗力。要加强无人智能技术军事应用，深化网络信息体系建设运用，逐步构建智能化军事体系。要加强作战能力体系集成，搞好实战化检验评估，扎实推进练兵备战，有效捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益。

Xi Jinping stressed that consolidating and improving an integrated national strategic system and capabilities is the only path to advancing the high-quality modernization of national defense and the military. China must strengthen military governance and, in step with implementing military-local reform tasks, optimize institutional mechanisms and improve policies and systems, forming a military-local working pattern in which responsibilities are clearly divided, cooperation is close, and order is well-regulated. Relevant departments of central and state organs, as well as local Party committees and governments, must vigorously support the development of national defense and the military, fostering a strong social atmosphere of caring for, cherishing, building, and defending national defense.

习近平强调，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力，是高质量推进国防和军队现代化的必由之路。要加强军事治理，结合落实跨军地改革任务，优化体制机制，完善政策制度，形成各司其职、紧密协作、规范有序的跨军地工作格局。中央和国家机关有关部门、地方党委和政府要大力支持国防和军队建设，在全社会营造关心国防、热爱国防、建设国防、保卫国防的浓厚氛围。