Chinese President asks the army to prepare for war and win

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to direct all its energies to maintain the readiness to fight and win wars. He said China's national security is facing increased stability.

He inspected the joint operations command centre of the military on Tuesday. The 69-year-old addressed the largest army in the world and said the world is undergoing more profound changes which are unseen in a century. He stressed the military's tasks remain arduous due to the uncertainty faced by national security.

China's army is two million strong.

The President asked the entire military to devote its energy to maintaining combat readiness, enhancing the capability to fight and win, and effectively fulfilling its missions. He also directed the army to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China is aiming to make the PLA a world-class armed force by 2027 which is on par with the US armed forces. Xi told the military leadership to focus on this goal. "We must do all we can to make this happen."

Last month, he said that the army should improve training and preparation for war in all aspects to improve the ability to fight and win. "We will strengthen the normal and diversified use of military forces, carry out military struggles with determination and flexibility, shape the security posture, contain crises and conflicts, and win local wars."

Xi has taken charge of the military for a third term after being chosen as the overall high command of the PLA for a third five-year term by the party's once-in-a-five-year Congress. He has been reappointed as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Central Military Commission (CMC). He now holds three powerful posts - the head of the party, the military, and the Presidency.