On the afternoon of Feb. 6, the Central Military Commission hosted a New‑Year cultural performance at the China Theatre to honor retired senior cadres of the Beijing garrison. Xi Jinping, in his capacities as General Secretary, head of state and chairman of the CMC, attended the event and offered seasonal greetings to the veterans present and to retired military personnel across the armed forces.
Such public appearances are a staple of Beijing’s ritual politics, combining ceremonial respect with a clear political message. By personally presiding over the gala Xi asserted the party leadership’s attention to the welfare and status of retired officers, reinforcing bonds of loyalty between the Communist Party and multiple generations of the People’s Liberation Army.
The event plays out against the broader backdrop of military modernisation and organisational tightening that have marked Xi’s tenure. High‑profile engagements with veterans serve not only to reward service but to stabilise the party’s relationship with a cohort that can influence opinion within the armed forces and among civilian constituencies, helping prevent fractiousness during periods of reform or geopolitical tension.
While the performance is primarily a domestic, symbolic gesture, it has outward implications as well: a visibly consolidated party‑army relationship projects internal cohesion at a time when Beijing faces strategic competition abroad. Expect similar pageants of loyalty and care for veterans to remain a recurring element of China’s political calendar as the leadership seeks to buttress its authority and the PLA’s unity.