Edited and translated by People's Daily Online
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng answered some questions concerning the country's military exercises in recent months at a routine press conference in Beijing on Nov. 30.
Military exercises routine
As for the second sea trial of China's aircraft carrier, which started Nov. 29, Geng said that the sea trial is a routine arrangement and related parties should take an objective and rational view. As a complicated systematic project, the development of the aircraft carrier involves many different kinds of weapons, equipment and facilities, which all need to be tested. The timetable for the tests depends on the progress of the project, which is well underway as planned.
Strategic planning department founded
When asked why the People's Liberation Army (PLA) established a strategic planning department, Geng explained that rapid and drastic changes are taking place in militaries around the world, and the structures of armed forces are becoming increasingly complex.
As the militaries are all seeking to build a sound military system, the requirements for strategic management are becoming stricter and stricter. The militaries of all major powers have established special agencies for studying strategies and national defense policy. To this end, they have attached great importance to the overall planning and top-down strategic management of military development.
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