Party Still Controls the Gun in China – Mure Dickie

From Financial Times:

With sharp new uniforms on order, international military manoeuvres under way, and officers offering rare glimpses of their commands, China’s People’s Liberation Army has been putting on a fresh face ahead of its 80th birthday on Wednesday.

But the most prominent theme of a large exhibition to mark the anniversary at Beijing’s military museum this month is a more traditional issue: the importance of subservience to China’s ruling Communist party. Walls are dominated by photographs of visits and instructions to the troops by Hu Jintao, Chinese president, and his forebears as party leader. Injunctions to “unswervingly obey” and “act as the loyal guard” of the party abound. [Full Text]