Troop cuts signal path of peaceful development
Troop cuts signal path of peaceful development
The announcement by President Xi Jinping to cut China's troops by 300,000 ahead of an epic V-Day parade on Thursday proves the nation's resolve to sticking to the path of peaceful development.
The timing of the announcement, which surprised many, demonstrates China's sincerity as the much-anticipated parade was the nation's first one to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The reduction is a consistent move for China, which has been an active force in arms control and disarmament in the global arena.
The cuts, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017, will be China's 11th military reduction since the founding of New China on October 1, 1949, and the fourth one since the 1980s.
In 1985, China downsized its army by more than 1 million, the largest cuts ever. After the recent move, China's troop levels will stand at 2 million, compared with 6.27 million in October 1949.
Very few countries have made so many reductions on such large scales.
The scheduled cuts have proven arguments that China meant to showcase its military muscle with the massive parade groundless. Such voices are out of ill intent because they underline a so-called "China Threat" theory which is being hyped up by some western media outlets.
The reductions also show the Chinese government is not chanting empty slogans while saying Thursday's commemoration activities are aimed partly at cherishing peace and opening up the future.
