Chinese President Xi Jinping has made an urgent call for the Western Theater Command Air Force to quickly adapt to unique environments. His strategic directive came during his visit on July 26, just ahead of China’s Army Day, where he also expressed his heartfelt greetings and festive wishes to all military and associated personnel.
President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for the forces to modernize at a brisk pace and effectively carry out the tasks entrusted by the Party and the Chinese people. He specifically spotlighted the urgent need for the Western Theater Command Air Force to become accustomed to operating in special environments.
Adding further context, it’s understood that the Chinese Air Force’s Western Theater Command boasts more than 270 fighter jets, primarily equipped with J-20, J-16, J-10C, J-11A, J-11B, J-11BG, JH-7A, and J-7E fighters. The J-7E, a second-and-a-half generation old fighter, has already begun to retire completely. The J-11A in the troops is gradually retiring, being replaced by the more advanced upgraded J-11BG. The remaining J-11B fighter jets are also undergoing a complete modernization overhaul. This implies that in the future, about 90% of the more than 270 fighters in the Western Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army will be the most advanced fourth-and-a-half and fifth-generation fighters. The J-16 and J-11BG series fighters, which are expected to exceed 160 in number, will be the most widely equipped. Furthermore, it is reported that there are about 40 J-20s in the Western Theater Command.
In line with this advancement, President Xi urged an increase in combat readiness by introducing real-world, practical combat scenarios in the training regimen. This would ensure that soldiers are trained under the same conditions they would encounter in actual warfare, thereby boosting the quality and effectiveness of their training.
The President also emphasized the imperative of keeping the Party’s ideologies, politics, and organizations at the heart of the military’s control. Upholding strict discipline and pushing forward the fight against corruption were other significant aspects he stressed.
To conclude, President Xi Jinping’s visit and address were a clear testament to his strong commitment to the strategic vision of preparing the Western Theater Command Air Force for potential challenges in unique environments and fostering a modern, disciplined military force.
