Xi Jinping, China’s leader, emphasizes military preparedness for potential conflict.

China’s President Urges Military Modernization

After ‍months of intensified and increasingly ambitious drills to project power, Chinese president Xi Jinping, speaking ahead of⁤ Tuesday’s 96th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army‌ (PLA),⁢ told China’s armed ⁢forces to speed up modernization.

In‍ his address, Xi emphasized the need ‌for the military⁣ to broaden its ‌combat capability and readiness, according ‍to the official Xinhua news agency.

Pushing for New Equipment⁤ and Forces

“We need to‌ push for new ⁣equipment ‍and new forces to accelerate forming combat capabilities and integrate into the combat system,” Xi told ​the‌ Peoples⁢ Liberation Army Air Force’s western ​theatre command⁤ during a visit last Wednesday, ‍Xinhua reported on Sunday.

Marking the anniversary on Tuesday, an editorial in the official PLA Daily newspaper said the military​ had “enhanced its ability to carry out ⁢diversified military tasks in a ⁣wider space”.

China has flaunted ⁢its military might this year, ramping up military maneuvers and drills, signaling ⁢that ⁢its third ​and most ⁢advanced aircraft ⁣carrier will soon start‌ sea trials,​ and tightening its military relationship with⁤ Russia.

Some analysts say ​that⁤ the ⁤moves reflect China’s perception of increased external threats from the United States ⁤and its allies, and that Beijing is flexing its military muscle​ to send political messages.

“The reason is simple: the ‍world is⁢ not peaceful and the external environment ​that China faces continues to⁣ deteriorate,” said Chinese military analyst Song⁤ Zhongping, noting the increasing⁣ intensity and⁤ frequency ​of Chinese​ drills.

The ‍U.S. ‍is also expanding regional deployments‍ and tightening ties with longstanding allies and newer friends – sparking calls from Chinese officials that Washington ‌should steer clear of China’s coasts if​ dialogue between the two‍ militaries is to⁣ resume.

Drew Thompson, visiting⁣ senior research‍ fellow at National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan​ Yew School of ‍Public ​Policy, told ‍Reuters that China’s drills represent ‍more of a political message⁤ than a military one.

“Everything the PLA (People’s Liberation​ of Army) does‍ is inherently⁢ political,” Thompson said. “When the Chinese military conducts an exercise, it is showing force -⁢ it is bestowing or sending a message to other countries,” he ⁤said.

Long-Range⁣ Capabilities

Starting with ‌the ‌military drill ⁤in the ‌Taiwan strait after Taiwanese ⁤president Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in April,⁣ China has⁢ conducted‍ at least a dozen ‍exercises and patrols from the Sea of Japan to the Western Pacific.

At​ sea, China⁢ is readying its aircraft carriers to extend and assert its power beyond its home waters. Although they remain in training mode, Beijing has ⁢deployed the⁤ Shandong ⁤farther into ​the Pacific than​ previous sailings.

Regional military attaches and analysts will be⁣ scrutinizing the expected sea trial ⁢of the more⁢ advanced Fujian carrier for signs ⁣of technological and operational progress.

State broadcaster CCTV said in June that the ⁢sea trial would start “soon” but no ‍date has been‍ fixed.

In the sky,⁢ China is⁢ fortifying its​ long-range abilities.

Videos‍ posted online showed China’s J-20 stealth jet fighter ⁤taking off with domestically produced WS-15 engines, the South ⁤China Morning ‌Post reported ⁤in ​early‍ July, while another‌ report said⁤ the new engine will put U.S. military bases ‍in South Korea, Japan, and⁢ Guam⁤ within‌ the ​range of J-20.

China has worked for decades to build‌ its high-performance jet engines that can compete with Western and Russian⁢ models, but the⁣ capabilities of the WS-15 ⁤are not ​publicly known.

The ⁤refueling variant ​of ‌its long-range Y-20 cargo aircraft​ was also‌ displayed in a⁢ formation ⁣with jet fighters at a‍ recent air show.

“It delivered a positive signal⁣ that Chinese air ⁢forces⁤ can ⁣conduct distant sea training and its​ systematic and long-distance combat capabilities‍ are ‌getting stronger and stronger,” state media cited Shi Yunjia, a⁢ J-20 pilot, as saying last week.

(Reporting by⁢ Greg Torode and Albee Zhang; Editing ⁢by)