China’s marine corps on notice to boost combat strength, analyst says
- Chinese president’s visit to base points to dissatisfaction with progress in amphibious wing, observers say
- Corps’ responsibilities are expanding as the country’s interests grow around the world
China’s marine corps will have more training in joint operations to bolster combat strength as the country’s security risks increase at home and abroad, according to military analysts.
“The marines should come up with road maps with the goals, direction, path and focus of team building,” Xi told senior officers.
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Xi Jinping tells marines to focus on ‘preparing to go to war’ in military base visit
Military observers said Xi’s remarks indicated that he was not happy with the progress of the amphibious wing of the armed forces.
Under Beijing’s plans, the marines would be at the forefront of any plans to “reunify Taiwan with the mainland” by force.
But the corps is also taking more responsibility to defend China’s interests in the region as Beijing extends its global reach.
In July 2017, China started sending marines to Djibouti a few months after the special combat force was formally expanded and reorganised amid Xi’s military reforms.
“Conducting amphibious operations in the Taiwan reunification plan is just one of the missions of the marine corps,” Beijing-based naval specialist Li Jie said.