PLA Commentary Stresses Tempering Party Spirit in Military Cadres

In a commentary published by the PLA Daily on July 29, 2026, author Fan Weizhou detailed the imperative of tempering strong Party spirit among military cadres as part of implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building. The article highlights 'tempering strong Party spirit' as a core component of the framework's overarching principles. It frames Party character as essential for maintaining political loyalty, advancing military reforms, and upholding the absolute leadership of the Chinese Communist Party over the armed forces amid complex operational risks.

The focus on Party spirit within military cadres underlines political loyalty as the primary foundation for China's military modernization and organizational discipline.

An official commentary published in the PLA Daily and carried by China Military Online on July 29, 2026, emphasized the critical necessity of continuously tempering strong Party spirit among military cadres to support China's armed forces modernization. Written by Fan Weizhou, the article analyzes the theoretical and practical dimensions of ideological cultivation under Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building, highlighting the principle of tempering Party spirit as an essential component within the framework's overarching 'Fourteen Persists' guidelines. The commentary defines Party spirit as the fundamental cornerstone for military cadres across four key areas: establishing personal standing, executing professional responsibilities, formulating official views, and cultivating moral virtue. Identifying military Party cadres as the core backbone driving the revitalization of the armed forces, the text explicitly asserts that the strength of cadres' Party spirit directly impacts the overall success or failure of military strengthening initiatives. According to the publication, tempering Party spirit represents both an inheritance and theoretical development of foundational Marxist party-building principles, synthesized from the Party's historical experience and practical exploration. The commentary calls on armed forces organizations to incorporate political and ideological cultivation directly into daily routines and ongoing institutional practices. Specifically, the article notes that regularized Party spirit training is aimed at ensuring the Party retains its original political character while preserving its organizational creativity, internal cohesion, and combat capability over time. As the armed forces navigate complex security risks and demanding mission requirements, the commentary stresses that solid Party spirit cultivation is mandatory for building political loyalty, assuming responsibility, and safeguarding institutional purity. Differentiating general personal conduct from a member's political Party spirit, the article frames ongoing ideological strengthening as a strategic priority spanning historical experience, contemporary duties, and future defense requirements.