A published video clip shows Chinese President Xi Jinping issuing a New Year’s objective to the military: Prepare for war.
In the clip, which was filmed in Central Theatre Command on Wednesday, more than 7,000 Chinese servicemen standing in formation opposite about 300 armored vehicles, await Xi’s New Year orders.
“Here I give my orders: the military at all levels should strengthen military training and war preparedness,” Xi said.
“The military should continue to implement actual and joint trainings under combat conditions, and continue to conduct strict training in accordance with the Outline for Military Training and Evaluation,” he continued.
“The military should hold training and competition with mass participation, strengthen tailored and adversarial training, enhance real combat capabilities, and master the skills to fight and win,” Xi added.
The order itself does not seem odd, given that any power, great or small, wants a military capable of winning wars. But it seems more ominous given China’s rising influence in the region and beyond, and as tensions rise between North Korea and the United States. [source]
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