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Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to continue its training and improve its combat preparedness amid the ongoing pandemic, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“It is necessary to explore ways and means of training and preparing for war as we normalize pandemic prevention and control measures,” Xi said on Tuesday while addressing the Chinese military delegation to the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, which is holding its annual meeting in Beijing.
Remember: Modernizing the army and enhancing its combat preparedness have been a priority for Xi since he took power in 2013.
Xi, who also heads the 2 million-strong PLA, acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic has been a “big test” for the military while also creating a “profound impact” on China’s security and development.
“It is necessary to adhere to the bottom-line thinking, comprehensively strengthen the training of troops and combat preparedness,” said Xi, adding that the military should “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests and the overall strategic stability of the country.”
Xi echoed previous statements made by Premier Li Keqiang following the announcement of an increased military budget last week when Li said the bigger military budget was needed to protect China’s “sovereignty, security, development interests.”
Xi’s comments come amid growing tensions between the US and China over several issues including trade, Hong Kong, and the coronavirus pandemic.