The Chinese military has pledged absolute loyalty to President Xi Jinping, after the recent key Congress of the ruling Communist Party conferred on him a leadership status akin to party founder Mao Zedong. <br/><br/>China's highest military authority today said the Chinese military will be absolutely loyal, pure, reliable, and resolutely follow the orders of Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Xi Jinping. The eight-member CMC is the overall high command of the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army (PLA). Xi is the only civilian in the CMC.<br/><br/>Yesterday, in a guidelines issued, CMC said that the army should follow Xi's command and answer to his order. The CMC also said the armed forces should deeply and comprehensively implement the system by which the chairman of the CMC has overall responsibility for the army.