Xi urges PLA modernisation ahead of 2027 amid renewed Taiwan push
Xi Jinping asked China's military to accelerate modernisation and meet key 2027 goals. The speech tied national security, Taiwan reunification and tighter party control to his continuing rule.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday asked the military to speed up its modernisation and raise its capabilities to world-class standards, saying this was necessary to protect China's sovereignty, security and development interests. Speaking at an event marking the 105th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) should move faster towards the goals set for its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Xi also repeated China's position on Taiwan, calling reunification with the Chinese mainland a historic mission and an "unshakable" commitment of the CPC. He said China would take resolute action against those seeking "Taiwan independence", oppose external interference, and advance national reunification, while also calling for greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and development.
Xi, who heads the CPC, the military and the Presidency, said efforts should be made to elevate the armed forces' capabilities to world-class standards, a goal widely interpreted as matching the standards of the US military in weaponry, equipment and training. According to state-run Xinhua news agency, he said the military must resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests.
On Taiwan, Xi said, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realising China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment for the CPC." China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island, as part of the Chinese mainland and strongly pushes the 'One China' policy in its relations with other countries.
Xi also praised the CPC's 105-year history as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the party to press ahead with building China into a modern socialist country. He said that since its founding in 1921, when China was weak and affected by foreign humiliation and poverty, the CPC had grown from a group of just over 50 members into the world's largest governing party with major global influence.
He also stressed the need for full and rigorous Party self-governance and called for continued efforts to win what he described as "the tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption". Since taking power in 2012, Xi has made the anti-corruption campaign a central political plank, which critics say helped him consolidate his power. The campaign has led to disciplinary action and punishment for more than a million officials, including top military officers.
Xi is the only CPC leader after Mao Zedong to remain in power beyond two five-year terms, and he is now in his third five-year term. The event on Wednesday was seen as preparation for next year's five-yearly CPC Congress, which elects new leadership. Often referred to as "President for life", Xi is widely expected to continue in power with a fourth five-year term, as he used the party anniversary event to underline military modernisation, reunification with Taiwan and tighter party discipline.
With PTI Inputs
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday asked the military to speed up its modernisation and raise its capabilities to world-class standards, saying this was necessary to protect China's sovereignty, security and development interests. Speaking at an event marking the 105th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) should move faster towards the goals set for its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Xi also repeated China's position on Taiwan, calling reunification with the Chinese mainland a historic mission and an "unshakable" commitment of the CPC. He said China would take resolute action against those seeking "Taiwan independence", oppose external interference, and advance national reunification, while also calling for greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and development.
Xi, who heads the CPC, the military and the Presidency, said efforts should be made to elevate the armed forces' capabilities to world-class standards, a goal widely interpreted as matching the standards of the US military in weaponry, equipment and training. According to state-run Xinhua news agency, he said the military must resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests.
On Taiwan, Xi said, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realising China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment for the CPC." China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island, as part of the Chinese mainland and strongly pushes the 'One China' policy in its relations with other countries.
Xi also praised the CPC's 105-year history as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the party to press ahead with building China into a modern socialist country. He said that since its founding in 1921, when China was weak and affected by foreign humiliation and poverty, the CPC had grown from a group of just over 50 members into the world's largest governing party with major global influence.
He also stressed the need for full and rigorous Party self-governance and called for continued efforts to win what he described as "the tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption". Since taking power in 2012, Xi has made the anti-corruption campaign a central political plank, which critics say helped him consolidate his power. The campaign has led to disciplinary action and punishment for more than a million officials, including top military officers.
Xi is the only CPC leader after Mao Zedong to remain in power beyond two five-year terms, and he is now in his third five-year term. The event on Wednesday was seen as preparation for next year's five-yearly CPC Congress, which elects new leadership. Often referred to as "President for life", Xi is widely expected to continue in power with a fourth five-year term, as he used the party anniversary event to underline military modernisation, reunification with Taiwan and tighter party discipline.
With PTI Inputs
