NEWS
Chinese leader Xi calls on military to prepare for maritime conflicts
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3/8/24, 4:00 AM
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on China’s formidable military to prepare for conflicts that may arise from its bid to protect maritime rights and interests as his country continues to assert its claim over wide areas in the East and South China seas.
As it is, China is already showing arm twisting actions over the South China Sea as it continues to insist on claims of nearly the whole of the sea, ignoring provisions of international laws on the issue.
On Thursday (March8), Xi met with delegations of China’s armed forces and alerted them of possible conflicts in the contested areas.
The meeting took place just two days after the Chinese Coast Guard harassed a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, bombarding it with water cannon and slamming part of the latter’s body.
Four crew members of the PCG vessel were injured as a result of the incident.
While Philippines aired a diplomatic protest, the attacker also complained.
China’s state-run media said that Xi also urged the military to enhance strategic capabilities in cyberspace and outer space.
The Chinese leader encouraged the promotion of China’s aerospace system development and the development of a cyberspace defense system.