Ajit Karn
Beijing: In the midst of escalating tensions with the United States, President Xi Jinping has called for a swifter ascent of the armed forces to world-class standards. He has also emphasised the importance of breaking new ground in enhancing the integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities of the Chinese military to win wars.
Xi Jinping, who oversees the military in addition to the governing Communist Party and the presidency, made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delegates attending the annual parliament session in Beijing, according to Xinhua.
He stated that consolidating and enhancing integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities is crucial to building a modern socialist country, achieving the goals for the 100th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2027, and rapidly achieving world-class standards for the armed forces.
“It is imperative to strengthen the orientation of defence science, technology, and industries in order to support the military and win conflicts,” he said.
Underscoring the objective of maximising China’s national strategic capabilities, Xi Jinping told the PLA delegates that efforts should be made to integrate strategic layouts, resources, and strengths in all areas in order to systematically improve the country’s overall strength to deal with strategic risks, protect strategic interests, and achieve strategic goals.
Xi Jinping called for efforts to advance collaborative innovation in science and technology, with an emphasis on independent and original innovation, thereby accelerating the development of high-level self-reliance and technological strength.
Xi Jinping stated that strategic capabilities in emerging sectors must be strengthened to pursue new advantages in national development and international competitions, and that the resilience of industrial and supply chains must be improved.
He ordered the coordination of the construction of key infrastructure, the acceleration of the creation of national reserves, and the enhancement of the reserves’ capacity to protect national security.
Reform and innovation must provide impetus for consolidating and enhancing integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities, Xi Jinping emphasised, imploring more progress on the issue.
In addition, he urged the public to cultivate a culture of caring about, devoting to, and protecting national defence in order to aggregate resources for consolidating and enhancing integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities and for building a strong nation with a strong military.
A day earlier, President Xi Jinping stated that western nations, headed by the United States, have engaged in all-encompassing containment and suppression, which has posed unprecedented and severe obstacles to China’s development.
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Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang sharply criticised the United States, asserting that Washington’s efforts to contain China’s progress will fail.
Referring to the recent incident in which an American fighter jet fired down a Chinese unmanned balloon soaring over American airspace, he accused the United States of violating international law, overreacting, and using excessive force.
US perceptions and perspectives of China are grossly distorted. Containing and repressing China will not make the United States powerful, nor will it stop China’s rejuvenation, according to Qin.
