Xi Jinping says the Chinese army should prepare for war: ‘Focus all your energy on fighting’

Xi visited the command center of the Chinese Liberation Army on Tuesday. Pictures of the president in military uniform appeared prominently on the front page of the party’s newspaper the next day. During his visit, Xi is said to have said that the military should “widely enhance its military training in preparation for war”. During the last party congress, Xi also warned of “dangerous storms looming”.

“Focus all your energies on the fight, work hard, and improve your winning ability,” it would have sounded. Xi said the Chinese military should also “resolutely defend national sovereignty and security” as China finds itself in an “unstable and unstable” security situation.

Xi ordered the military to prepare for war in 2013, shortly after taking office, and again in 2017. But the rhetoric appears stronger this time, experts say. “It sends a message to the United States and Taiwan,” said Willie Lam of the American think tank. Jamestown Foundation.