As chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Xi said a strong military is needed for the great renewal of the Chinese nation. He has demonstrated his strategic thinking on how to consolidate national defense and build strong armed forces.
For the past four months, Xi has inspected the army, navy, air force, second artillery corps and armed police, boarding warships and combat vehicles.
During an inspection tour to the Guangzhou Military Theater of Operations in December, Xi emphasized that soldiers must be loyal to the CPC and abide by the law.
"The armed forces need to be ready to assemble at the first call of the CPC and be capable of fighting and winning any battle," Xi said while inspecting the Lanzhou Military Area.
While vowing to never allow the country's national sovereignty, security and development interests to be infringed upon, Xi reiterated that China will always remain a staunch force in upholding world peace, as the nation suffered from wars in the past.
"We will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," he said
作为中共中央军委主席，习近平高度重视军队 和国防建设。“我们要实现中华民族伟大复兴，必须坚持富国和强军相统一。”对如何建设巩固国防和强大军队，习近平有着清晰的战略思路。去年１２月初在广州 战区考察时，他要求广大官兵牢记：“坚决听党指挥是强军之魂，能打仗、打胜仗是强军之要，依法治军、从严治军是强军之基。”在兰州军区视察时，他强调，要 确保部队“召之即来、来之能战、战之必胜”。
担任中共中央军委主席以来，习近平相继视察 了陆军、海军、空军、二炮和武警部队。在破浪航行的战舰上，在炮声隆隆的演兵场，在整洁的连队宿舍楼里，习近平登甲板、进舱室，上战车、到班排，察看装备 设施，观摩实战演练，详细了解基层官兵学习、训练、生活情况，认真听取基层建设的意见和建议。
在广泛调研、深入思考、充分论证的基础上，习近平在十二届全国人大一次会议解放军代表团全体会议上鲜明提出，建设一支听党指挥、能打胜仗、作风优良的人民军队是党在新形势下的强军目标，为新的历史条件下推进国防和军队建设指明了方向，提供了根本遵循。
中国对和平有着孜孜不倦的追求，中国加强国防建设的目的是维护国家主权、安全、领土完整，保障国家和平发展。习近平强调，中国始终是维护世界和平的坚定力量，将信守“永远不称霸，永远不搞扩张”的庄严承诺。