BEIJING, April 12. /TASS/. China’s leader Xi Jinping pointed to the need for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to bolster its preparedness for real warfare, the country’s central television reported on Wednesday.
The Chinese leader handed down these instructions during an inspection of the Army’s Southern Theater Command, the central television reported.
"It is necessary to bolster the preparedness for real warfare and focus on the training aimed at combat operations," Xi said.
The Chinese leader also highlighted the importance of a more profound research in the military sphere, renewed tactics and training methods.
As Xi pointed out, the People’s Liberation Army of China should "improve the ability to react timely and properly to complex situations" and also "to decisively defend the territorial sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China, the rights and interests at sea." In addition, he said that the Chinese military should seek to maintain general stability on the adjacent territories.
The Chinese leader visited the Southern Theater Command after the country’s large-scale military maneuvers around Taiwan. The large-scale drills around the island were prompted by transit visits via US territory by Taipei Administration Head Tsai Ing-wen in late March and early April this year. Last week, US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a meeting with Tsai Ing-wen, following which the US side stated the need to continue arms sale to Taiwan.