Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for troops to enhance their war preparedness during a recent visit to a brigade of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, as reported by state media on Saturday.
This call for heightened military readiness comes on the heels of large-scale military drills conducted by Beijing around Taiwan.
Speaking to the soldiers on Thursday, Xi urged the military to “comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war” and to ensure that troops possess robust combat capabilities. He stressed the importance of enhancing both strategic deterrence and combat readiness.
China has intensified its military presence around Taiwan in recent years, claiming the island as part of its territory. This week, Beijing executed its fourth round of extensive military exercises near Taiwan in just over two years, deploying fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels to encircle the self-ruled island.
The Chinese government has maintained that it will not rule out the use of force to assert control over Taiwan, further escalating tensions in the region.
During his remarks, Xi highlighted the necessity for the military to “strongly safeguard the country’s strategic security and core interests.”
The historical context of the China-Taiwan dispute dates back to the civil war of 1949, when the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist troops and retreated to Taiwan.
Since then, China and Taiwan have been governed separately, with ongoing tensions regarding sovereignty and territorial claims.
Xi’s recent statements and the accompanying military maneuvers signal a continued assertiveness from Beijing in its claims over Taiwan, reflecting a broader strategy to bolster national security amid rising regional tensions.
