Source: www.worthynews.com
Date: October 21, 2024
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BEIJING (Worthy News) – China’s president has ordered his military to prepare for war, a move closely watched by the United States and its allies.
Xi Jinping commented while visiting a brigade of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan.
Communist-run China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has condemned Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as “separatist.”
Lai rejects Beijing’s sovereignty, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, but has also offered talks with China, which has stepped up military activities around Taiwan.
Yet, in comments monitored by Worthy News, Xi appeared to be in no mood to talk. He said the military should “comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities.”
Xi stressed in remarks shared by Chinese state media that soldiers should “enhance their strategic deterrent and combat capability. ”
COMMUNIST LEADERS
Hid words underscored threats made by China’s communist leaders, who insisted they would not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control.
In recent days, Beijing has already deployed fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan in its fourth round of large-scale war games around the democratic island over two years.
Xi told Chinese media that his military must “strongly safeguard the country’s strategic security and core interests.”
The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist fighters and fled to the island in 1949.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since then.
However, tensions have risen recently, and Beijing’s latest war rhetoric did little to ease them.