Xi Jinping calls on navy to be prepared for struggle
President inspects South Sea fleet and makes rallying call in latest display of military strength amid territorial disputes
President Xi Jinping inspected the navy's South Sea fleet in Sanya in the latest display of his consolidation of power over the army and China's military strength.
Xi urged soldiers to be better prepared for military struggle in the inspection on Tuesday, which was only reported by state and military media yesterday.
The visit came one day after Xi made an unprecedented visit to fishermen who spend most of their working lives in disputed waters in the South China Sea - a move seen as sending a message to China's neighbours involved in territorial disputes.
State-run CCTV reported yesterday that Xi paraded in an open-roof car and inspected vessels of the South China Sea fleet.
Among the vessels inspected were an unspecified "new-type" submarine and the Jinggangshan amphibious landing ship, which participated in a 16-day drill and patrol mission in the South China Sea that ended last week.
The ship visited James Shoal, close to the outer limits of China's "nine-dash line" from where it lays claim to the disputed waters that are also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
Xi chatted with 20 women soldiers, among them five Uygurs from Xinjiang. During an inspection of a submarine and while eating lunch with marines, Xi said the living standard of troops had improved, but called on the army to endure hardship.