China's Xi says nation’s navy should become world class
President’s comments come as China is strengthening its naval forces and taking a more assertive stance to its claims in the East and South China Seas
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater efforts to make the country’s navy world class, strong in operations on, below and above the oceans, as it steps up its ability to project power far from its shores.
China’s navy has taken an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and a new aircraft carrier launched last month.
With President Donald Trump promising a US shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on sensitive issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the US Navy.
Inspecting navy headquarters, Xi said the navy should “aim for the top ranks in the world”, the Defence Ministry said in a statement about his visit on Wednesday.
“Building a strong and modern navy is an important mark of a top ranking global military,” the ministry paraphrased Xi as saying.
It is a “pivot” for building the nation into a great maritime power, he said.