Won’t allow anyone to split our territory, damage sovereignty: Xi Jinping

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ Chinese President Xi Jinping has said China cannot let a single piece of its territory split and won’t allow anyone to damage its sovereignty. Speaking at the Great Hall of the People here on the 90th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Xi asked the military to always remain combat ready.

“We do not allow any individual, any organisation, any political party, at any time or by any means to split any single piece of Chinese territory,” said Xi, who commands the world’s largest standing army.

“No one can expect us to swallow consequences that damage our sovereignty, security and developmental interests,” he said. On Sunday, addressing the Chinese Army in Inner Mongolia during a parade, Xi said the PLA was capable of defeating invading enemies.

Xi said the PLA had done its duty to counter secessionist forces in Hong Kong and Macau. China is locked in a number of territorial disputes — both on waters and land — with various countries. It has, however, settled its land disputes with all 14 but two countries: India and Bhutan. China claims India’s Arunachal Pradesh as its own and calls it South Tibet.