A Communist Party magazine has revealed the chief concerns President Xi Jinping expressed during his inspection of the country’s first aircraft carrier in August.
“[You should] build up [the carrier’s] combat readiness and logistics and support expeditiously,” the carrier’s captain, Zhang Zheng, said Xi told him before wrapping up his inspection of the Liaoning, according to an account in this month’s issue of Dangjian, or Party Construction, magazine.
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Zhang said Xi, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, had paid attention to the details of the carrier’s weapons and equipment, and in particular, preparations for the aircraft carrier’s combat readiness, according to the magazine.
Zhang’s interview was among stories of 26 people who recalled their conversations with Xi last year. Others included paramilitary officers, pensioners, migrant workers and street cleaners who had spoken with the president on various occasions. The magazine is run by the Communist Party’s Central Publicity Department.
Analysts had said Xi’s August inspection of the carrier was designed to send a strong message to regional rivals, who were also strengthening their own navies.
Full article: Xi Jinping told aircraft carrier captain to build up combat readiness: official magazine (South China Morning Post)
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