Xi urges Chinese army to strengthen its capabilities through reform

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Sep 19:35
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Xi sees the necessity of revving up China's armed forces as the diplomatic rift with the West is further widening.

Military parade

Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday that President Xi Jinping urged for the better use of successful experience in the reform of national defense and the armed forces and striving for new horizons for strengthening the armed forces through reform.

"It is imperative to conscientiously summarize and apply successful experience in reforms, to master new situations and [understand] the requirements of the tasks, to focus on preparing for wars, and to have the courage to explore and innovate," Xinhua News Agency quoted the Chinese leader as saying during a conference on the reform of national defense and the armed forces, which was held in Beijing today.

According to Xi, the CPC Central Committee and the CMC have remarkably implemented the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through reform since the Party's 18th National Congress.

Long-standing systemic obstructions, structural incongruities, and policy issues in the development of national defense and the armed forces have been resolved, while historical achievements have been made in deepening the reform of national defense and the armed forces, Xi added, as quoted by Xinhua.

The demands as set by Xi are as follows: concise implementation of successful experience in past reforms, an understanding of the new situation and missions, and a focus on combat readiness.

Xi also urged high-ranking representatives of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), the People’s Armed Police Force, and military academics to mobilize efforts into implementing reform tasks and manage future reforms to provide strong impetus for achieving the goal set for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army.

Recent updates reveal that in the last two days, western military activities have been ongoing despite China's warnings of retaliating against further provoking actions.

The US 7th Fleet issued a statement yesterday saying that two military warships, a USS Higgins and a Canadian HMSC Vancouver, transited in the 'international waters' of the Taiwan Strait, which in reality is located in Chinese territory.

The term 'international waters' has been used by the US and its allies several times to continue their provocations against China.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden said that US soldiers would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese "invasion".

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said "China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the remarks by the US side. The US president has made such remarks several times and every time the administration would clarify that there is no change in its policy on Taiwan."

On September 3, Biden's administration announced it approved the sale of $1.1bn worth of arms to Taiwan. It has yet to be decided if the deal will be annulled or not after China urged the US to annul its arms deal and to cease all contacts with the island.