China was happy to allow the US to play the regional security card during its years of explosive expansion. In the short and medium term neither China or the US will give way in the South China sea showdown.China wants to expand its influence, the US wants to retain the staus quo, the tensions therefore are here to stay but neither side really wants outright conflict. The ceremony comes two days after the US sent another ship within 12 miles of an island claimed by China, the Pentagon said it was to counter efforts to limit freedom of navigation. ![]() Xi`s push to reform the military very much coincides with China becoming much more aggressive in its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas. Xi in his speech told the Generals to `unshakably listen to the party`s command and hold fast to the party`s absolute leadership over the armed forces`.hold fast to Xi`s total command of the PLA. In a personally very strong political move by Xi he reinforced how the military is ultimately loyal to the Communist Party and therefore to him rather than the Chinese state. The battle zones have the responsibility of dealing with all security threats, upholding the peace and constraining conflicts. We were told that the new makeup would make it easier to command joint operations. The seven previous regions are replaced by five new districts: north, south, east, west and central. This was a major signal to the people of China and the West of his firm control over the armed forces. ![]() Xi Jinping presided over the ceremony to create five new military regions `battle zones`, part of the streamlining of the 2.3 million strong People`s Liberation Army.
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