SHANGHAI - China's armed forces must strengthen their sense of
urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle, President Xi
Jinping told a meeting of top brass on Friday (Jan 4).
China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes
in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States
over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.
The official Xinhua news agency said Xi told a meeting of the
top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges,
and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development
needs.
Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission,
said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on
responsibilities for preparing and waging war.
"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a
century, and China is still in an important period of strategic
opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.
He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to
emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and
nurture new types of combat forces.
Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still
reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan
and prevent the island's independence.
Xi's Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump
signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US
commitment to the island's security.
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