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Xi Jinping tells marines to focus on ‘preparing to go to war’ in military base visit during southern China tour
- China’s president says they have ‘important responsibility’ to safeguard the country’s territory, sovereignty and maritime interests
- He also went to Shantou, where he praised overseas Chinese for their contributions to the nation’s reforms
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President Xi Jinping spent the second day of his Guangdong tour visiting a military base, where he called on marines to improve combat readiness and stay vigilant. He also toured Shantou, the hometown of many overseas Chinese, on Tuesday.
The president will take part in celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen special economic zone on Wednesday.
At the military base near Shantou in the east of the province, Xi told marines they should aim to be a “multifunctional, rapid response, all-weather and region” fighting force.
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“[You should] focus your minds and energy on preparing to go to war, and stay highly vigilant,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“Marines have many different missions and the demands on you will vary,” he said. “As such [you] should base your training on [the need to] go into battle … and raise [your] training standards and combat ability.”
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Xi Jinping tells marines to focus on ‘preparing to go to war’ in military base visit
Xi Jinping tells marines to focus on ‘preparing to go to war’ in military base visit
Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, told the marines they should shoulder the “important responsibility” of safeguarding Chinese territory and sovereignty, the country’s maritime interests and its interests overseas – veiled references to Beijing’s claims to Taiwan and the South China Sea.
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