China’s top military brass vow to be on high alert and ready for war amid mounting tension with US

On sidelines of party congress, defence minister stresses importance of military adhering to President Xi Jinping’s directives
People’s Liberation Army ‘must focus on the future battlefield’ and boost transformation and innovation, says delegate

China’s 20th Party Congress

Teddy Ng

Published: 5:00pm, 19 Oct 2022

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China’s top military brass have vowed to be on high alert and prepared for war as the nation faces mounting military confrontation with the United States.

The remarks were delivered during panel discussions on the sidelines of the ongoing Communist Party congress in Beijing, where a new leadership line-up is being formed.

Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe said China was running into “severe and grave national security conditions” and that it was important for the military to adhere to President Xi Jinping’s directives.

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The military must implement Xi’s thought on “strengthening the military and improving its ability to win”, Wei was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua on Wednesday.

“The military has to maintain a high degree of vigilance, always prepare for war and resolutely defend the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

Li Zuocheng, chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, said the military needed to support the development of the nation, including enhancing combat readiness and military hardware.

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The pledge came following Xi’s call on Sunday, while delivering a work report at the congress, for the PLA to move quicker with troop training and new strategies to become a world-class military.

Laying out the country’s development for the next five years, Xi said China had to establish a “strong system of strategic deterrence”, a move suggesting it would boost its nuclear arsenal.

Other initiatives outlined in the report included accelerated development of unmanned, intelligent combat capabilities, promoting coordinated development and applying the network information system.

The military confrontation between China and the US is escalating following a visit to Taiwan in August by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Beijing took Pelosi’s trip as US endorsement for a pro-independence agenda of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, and staged massive military drills around the self-ruled island.

Xi said Beijing would try its best to bring Taiwan back into the fold by peaceful means, but would not renounce the use of force if needed. Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province to be brought under its control, and most countries do not recognise the self-ruled island as an independent country.

China and the US are also locking horns over the South China Sea, whose sovereignty is contested by Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbours, and the East China Sea that is also claimed by Japan.

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Other military delegates attending the party congress also vowed to enhance preparation for war, PLA Daily reported on Tuesday.

“We must continue to promote actual combat training, closely follow the evolution of war patterns, study strategies to control the enemy and defeat the enemy,” the report quoted delegate Lin Lijun as saying.

Another delegate, Li Mingguo, said: “We must focus on the future battlefield, bravely assume the mission of winning the war, step up transformation and innovation, and concentrate our efforts to improve joint combat command skills.”