Analysis
The quoted statement aligns precisely with Xi’s remarks at the **20th Party Congress’ CMC meeting** (October–November 2022), where he reiterated the CCP’s doctrine of *‘the Party commands the gun’* (党指挥枪), a core tenet since Mao Zedong. Official Chinese state media, including **Xinhua** and **People’s Daily**, published transcripts confirming this phrasing. The statement reflects the CCP’s institutionalized control over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), codified in China’s constitution and military regulations.
Background
The principle of absolute Party leadership over the military was established during the Chinese Civil War and has been reaffirmed by every CCP leader, including Xi, who has intensified political loyalty campaigns within the PLA since taking power in 2012. The 2022 speech occurred amid Xi’s unprecedented third-term consolidation, where military loyalty was a key theme. This doctrine contrasts with Western civil-military relations, where armed forces typically report to elected governments rather than a single party.
Verdict summary
Xi Jinping did make this statement during his speech at the Central Military Commission (CMC) in November 2022, emphasizing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) control over the military as a longstanding principle.