Chinese President to His Army: Be Prepared for War

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week called on his country’s forces to strengthen their readiness for war, as reported by state media on Saturday, following large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

Xi made these remarks during a visit to a unit of the Chinese military’s rocket force on Thursday, according to the state-run CCTV. Xi said that the military should “comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war and ensure that the forces have solid combat capabilities,” according to the channel.

Xi added, “The soldiers should enhance their strategic capabilities for deterrence and combat.”

China views the self-governing island of Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has vowed to reclaim it, by force if necessary.

On Monday, Beijing deployed fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels in a simulated blockade of Taiwan, marking the fourth large-scale military drill in just over two years.

On Thursday, Xi said the Chinese military must “firmly safeguard the country’s strategic security and core interests,” according to CCTV.

The tensions between Beijing and Taipei date back to the bloody civil war fought by the communists under Mao Zedong against the nationalists of the Kuomintang party led by Chiang Kai-shek. After their defeat by the communists, who established the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the nationalists fled to Taiwan, which has since had its own government, military, and currency.