Shanghai (Agencies): Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that his country’s armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle.
The Chinese president said this during a meeting with the top brass of the military on Friday.
China is keen to beef up its armed forces amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and escalating tension with the United States over issues ranging from trade to the status of Taiwan.
According to China’s official news agency, the a meeting of the top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs.
President Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war.
"The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development," he was quoted as saying.
He said the armed forces needed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, needed to upgrade their joint operations capabilities and nurture new types of combat forces.
Xi's comments followed his remarks on Wednesday that China still reserved the right to use force to achieve "reunification" with Taiwan and prevent the island's independence.
Chinese president's Taiwan speech came just days after US President Donald Trump signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act into law, reaffirming the US commitment to the island's security.