Xi Jinping urges faster military modernization and deeper Marxist ideological focus at party leadership meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping told senior party leaders that China must speed up its military buildup, calling for the ruling Chinese Communist Party to strengthen its armed forces and further modernize them, while also deepening Marxist ideological work within the military, according to a report by The Washington Times published July 1, 2026.

In the remarks described by the outlet, Xi framed military modernization as inseparable from political and ideological requirements for the Communist Party, urging leaders to continue embracing Marxist ideology as part of the effort to develop and reinforce China’s military capabilities.

The statement was made by Xi on Wednesday, as China’s top leadership continued to emphasize the role of party control and ideological training throughout state institutions, including the armed forces, the report said.

While the report focuses on Xi’s directives rather than new specific program details, the thrust of the message was clear: China’s military posture should advance more quickly, and ideological alignment should remain a central component of that modernization process.

Xi’s comments come at a time when the direction of China’s defense policy is closely watched abroad, with outside governments and analysts often treating announcements about modernization and party oversight as indicators of broader strategic direction.

The Washington Times report characterizes Xi’s guidance as part of internal party emphasis on strengthening the military under Communist Party leadership, with modernization tied to ideological reinforcement, rather than being presented as a purely technical defense procurement effort.

What happens next will likely depend on how Chinese officials translate high-level directives into implementing measures, including continued party-led training and modernization priorities inside the defense establishment.