Xi calls for combat readiness as PLA marks anniversary
President Xi Jinping has told China's armed forces to speed up modernisation. Xi was speaking ahead of Tuesday's 96th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). In his address, he said the military must broaden its combat capability and readiness, Xinhua news agency reported. "We need to push for new equipment and new forces to accelerate forming combat capabilities and integrate into the combat system," Xi told the People’s 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 PLA Daily newspaper said the military had "enhanced its ability to carry out diversified military tasks in a wider space". Some analysts say that the moves reflect increased external threats from the United States and its allies, and because of this, Beijing is flexing its military muscle. "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 US is also expanding regional deployments and tightening ties with longstanding allies and newer friends – sparking calls from mainland officials that Washington should steer clear of China's coasts if dialogue between the two militaries is to resume. (Reuters)