Xi vows to strengthen China’s military, fight corruption in key speech
Key takeaways
- Fighting corruption was also a priority, Xi said, after a recent anti-graft purge gutted the military's top ranks.
- By: FRANCE 24 Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Communist Party of China's 105th anniversary celebration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 1, 2026.
- Analysts have questioned the ability of China's armed forces to fight effectively since Xi's sweeping anti-graft campaign gutted its top ranks.
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President Xi Jinping on Wednesday stressed the importance of a "strong military" and swore to "uphold the party's absolute leadership" of the armed forces in a speech marking the 105th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Fighting corruption was also a priority, Xi said, after a recent anti-graft purge gutted the military's top ranks.
By: FRANCE 24 Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Communist Party of China's 105th anniversary celebration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 1, 2026. © Maxim Shemetov, Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Wednesday to strengthen and modernise the military and to stamp out corruption within the ruling Communist Party.
Xi underscored the importance of a "strong military" in a speech to political and military leaders as well as Chinese Communist Party members gathered at the Great Hall of the People for the party's 105th founding anniversary.