China’s Xi calls on military to ‘be prepared’ amid ‘unstable’ security situation

China President Xi Jinping says the military needs to “be prepared” amid an “unstable” security situation with other countries.

“The current security situation of our country is largely unstable and uncertain,” Xi said in a panel discussion during a legislative session, the South China Morning Post reported.

“The entire military must coordinate the relationship between capacity building and combat readiness, be prepared to respond to a variety of complex and difficult situations at any time, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and provide strong support for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist state,” Xi added.

Tensions have been rising between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, the South China Sea and Hong Kong.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said that President Biden needs to reverse former President Trump’s policies regarding Taiwan and that the United States was “playing with fire” for backing an independent Taiwan government.

China and India are also in a tense situation over territory at the border that both countries believe should be theirs. 

China’s Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe has called for better military training as he says the country has “entered a high-risk phase” for national security, according to the South China Morning Post.

“We are facing mounting tasks in national defence … and we must comprehensively improve military training and preparedness for battle so as to increase our strategic capabilities to prevail over our strong enemies,” Wei said.

These talks come after China announced they would increase their military budget by 6.8 percent which would amount to $208 billion. The number could be higher as many experts don’t believe China releases its full numbers for the military.

Xi has said he wants a “world-class military” by 2050 and wants more innovative technology to be used.