Chinese President focuses communist control over army

Chinese President Hu Jintao is stressing the ruling Communist Party s ultimate control over China s rapidly modernizing military.

Hu s assertion came Sunday in a statement in the military s Liberation Army Daily newspaper calling on the 2.3 million-member force to develop advanced military culture. That is communist shorthand for retaining a leading role for socialist ideology.

Such calls seek to counter any movement toward nationalizing the force by making it ultimately responsible to the government rather than the party.

The People s Liberation Army has in recent years acquired latest-generation jet fighters and other advanced equipment. Last year it began sea trials for its first aircraft carrier.