Xi Jinping tells Chinese defence firms to aim higher and catch up on weapons technology
Documentary aired on state television reveals push to develop supercomputing, ballistic missile defence and satellite navigation systems
President Xi Jinping has ordered Chinese defence firms to speed up weapons development and aim to do better than the world’s most powerful militaries, a documentary aired on state media revealed.
His list of areas to work on included supercomputing, ballistic missile defence and satellite navigation systems, according to one of eight episodes in the Powerful Military series shown on state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.
China has also been cultivating young scientific talent specialised in advanced military hardware as it tries to modernise the People’s Liberation Army, according to the documentary.
Dozens of advanced warships went into service last year as China stepped up its weaponry hardware to meet its goal of having a blue-water navy capable of operating globally.
Xi – who also chairs the Central Military Commission – said in the documentary that scientists and weapons developers should aim to catch up to, and even surpass, the technology of other countries.
“The importance of weaponry development has increased as military technologies continue to be upgraded in recent years,” Xi said. “It’s impossible to win a battle if there is a weaponry gap.”