(Photo Credit: The Kremlin/www.kremlin.ru)
Details of the Chinese president’s speech were not made public for nearly 24 hours.
Today, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has reported that state-controlled CCTV broadcaster has reported on a Thursday speech made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in which he told the military region responsible for monitoring the South China Sea and Taiwan to “prepare for war.”
Citing the CCTV report, the SCMP report quotes Xi saying:
“It’s necessary to strengthen the mission … and concentrate preparations for fighting a war. We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen’s capabilities and preparation for war.”
Xi’s comments came during a speech delivered Thursday during a visit to the Guangdong province, but weren’t made public until nearly 24 hours later. This came just hours after Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said China would not give up “one single piece” of its territory.
China considers Taiwan to be a separatist state and part of its territory, not as an independent nation. It also reacts angrily to any effort to promote “independence” on the island.
Saying the U.S. has developed a “Cold War mentality” during a regional military forum in Beijing and railed against American efforts to challenge its authority over Taiwan, Wei slammed U.S. naval “freedom of navigation” exercises in the South China Sea and the vicinity of Taiwan.
Full article: Xi Tells PLA to ‘Prepare for War’ in South China Sea, Taiwan (TruNews)
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