On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the nation's military group that monitors the South China Sea and Taiwan to “prepare the war,” at a time when tensions between China and the US continue to grow over trade issues and Beijing's expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
“It's necessary to strengthen the mission […] and concentrate preparations for fighting a war,” according to the Chinese president, who was quoted by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday during an inspection of the Southern Theatre Command (one of the five war zones of China's People's Liberation Army) in Guangdong province.
“We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen's capabilities and preparation for war,” the president added.
The Southern Theatre Command is responsible for monitoring activities in the South China Sea, one of the world's most militarily contested maritime regions.
Beijing's extensive territorial claims in the waters, which include islands, banks, reefs and maritime ways, are challenged by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.
“We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen's capabilities and preparation for war,” Xi added, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Friday.
On Thursday, during the Xiangshan Forum‘s opening ceremony, Wei…
