Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a "great focus on the development of the Chinese army," noting that "Beijing needs to have its army prepared for a military conflict in light of the growing threats the country is facing."

In a meeting with military leaders, Jinping stressed the importance of "preparing a strong army so readily to be able to confront the dangers threatening China," and emphasized that "work must continue to reinforce the all-inclusive planning for war and make the necessary preparations for any imminent military conflict."

It is worth noting that last April, the Chinese Army accused the United States of taking measures that would "send a wrong message and abolish the stability in the region". This accusation came in light of the entry of a US aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships into the South China Sea.

Moreover, last March, the Chinese President called on the Army to be on alert and ready to confront what he called "instability" and to deal with all kinds of complex and difficult situations, in a meeting with the military delegation of the Chinese National People's Congress.