Why Did the CCP Fifth Plenary Session Tout ‘Combat Readiness’?

Chinese Communist Party officials applaud as leader Xi Jinping delivers his speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Chinese army entering North Korea, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2020. AP Photo/Andy Wong

Commentary

According to the communiques issued from the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) fifth plenary session on Oct. 29, top officials highlighted “the need to strengthen combat readiness to improve the strategic capability of safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interests,” as state-run media relayed.

What ‘Combat Readiness’ Means

The inclusion of the phrase “combat readiness” is especially interesting.