China has told its military to strictly obey the Communist Party as the country faces economic unrest this year and a string of sensitive anniversaries. The demand was issued by the Central Military Commission at a meeting presided over by President Hu Jintao, who is also the commission’s chairman.
A wave of factory shutdowns in the wake of falling exports has left millions of migrant workers unemployed, adding to worries among officials about a rise in social unrest. This year will also have sensitive anniversaries, such as the 50th anniversary of the Tibet uprising and 20th anniversary of the June 4 democratic movement. China said last month in a military policy paper that it remained on alert to separatism in Tibet and Xingjian; both areas experienced violence in 2008.