Be combat-ready: Chinese President Xi tells military

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ Chinese President Xi Jinping has underlined the need for building a combat-ready army and accelerate the building of the theatre joint combat command system, amidst the PLA flexing its muscles in the disputed South China Sea. Xi, the ruling Communist party’s General Secretary and the Central Military Commission’s Chairman, made the comments while inspecting the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday and stressed building a strong army which should also avoid being corrupt.

Xi, 63, viewed as the most powerful leader heading the party, military and the government will complete his first five year term this year and expected to be re-elected for another five-year term during the 19th Party Congress to be held later this year. He vowed to fight corruption and enhance the “sense of gain” among officers and soldiers of the 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army, the world’s largest.

Xi asked military personnel to strengthen their awareness in preparing for war, closely follow changes of situations and make unremitting efforts to enhance combat capabilities. Xi required an accelerated building of the theatre joint combat command system, vigorous development of a new-type fighting force and simultaneous improvement of national defence strength and economic development. His comments came amid China’s maritime disputes with its South China Sea neighbours.