28.10.2018, Beijing.
The Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged the South Military command to speed up preparations for military confrontation against the U.S. fleet in the South China Sea near Taiwan shores, the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong newspaper, reports on October 27.
“Concentrate preparations for fighting a war,” said Xi Jinping, who is also the commander in chief of People’s Liberation Army. “Take all complex situations into consideration and make emergency plans accordingly… We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen’s capabilities and preparation for war,” he instructed while on an inspection trip to Chinese province Guangdong.
Such strong wording from the supreme military and political leaders of the PRC is caused by the escalating situation with Taiwan whose independence Chinese authorities refuse to recognize or discuss. In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen, who supports the idea of declaring independence from China under the Taiwan Republic flags, won the Taiwanese elections. These events are unfolding in in the context of the U.S. increasing its military presence in the region, and joint U.S. and Japanese military exercises focusing on capturing islands with rapid reaction forces.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
