Xi Jinping urges troops to prepare for war amid escalating tensions around Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the nation's military to enhance its readiness for war, according to state media reports, following a series of large-scale military exercises near Taiwan.

During a visit to the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Thursday, Xi called for a comprehensive strengthening of military training and preparedness, emphasizing the need for troops to develop robust combat capabilities, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Xi stressed the importance of boosting "strategic deterrent and combat capability" while ensuring that the military can effectively safeguard China’s "strategic security and core interests." His remarks come shortly after Beijing launched extensive war drills around Taiwan, marking the fourth such exercise in the past two years, reported AFP.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has intensified its military presence around the self-ruled island, deploying fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels in a show of force earlier this week. The communist leadership in Beijing has repeatedly stated that it will not rule out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

The tensions between China and Taiwan stem from the Chinese civil war, during which nationalist forces led by Chiang Kai-shek retreated to the island in 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong's communist army. Since then, China and Taiwan have been governed separately, but Beijing continues to view Taiwan as a breakaway province.