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Xi Jinping urges China’s military to be ready for war in uncertain and unstable times
- The PLA must be prepared to ‘resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests’
- President makes call during trip to headquarters of the armed forces’ operational command centre
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Liu Zhenin Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping again urged the military to be ready for war as the country faced an increasingly unstable and uncertain security situation, state media reported on Tuesday.
“The task of military struggle is arduous and heavy,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“The entire military must … focus on combat ability as the fundamental and only criterion, concentrate all energy on fighting a war, direct all work towards warfare and speed up to build the ability to win.”
Xi made the remarks as the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) while inspecting the CMC’s joint operation command centre on Tuesday afternoon.
It was Xi’s first trip to the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army’s operational command since the Communist Party congress last month, when he secured a third term as head of the party and the restructured CMC.
Xi said the visit was to show to all the new CMC’s determination “to fully strengthen military training and preparation for war”.
He said that as the world’s “once in a century change” gained pace, the PLA must “resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and fulfil various tasks entrusted by the party and the people”.
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