China said the armed forces should increase combat readiness

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s armed forces should devote more energy to training for combat situations and increase combat readiness, Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday.

“Our armed forces, focusing on the centenary goals of the People’s Liberation Army in 2027, should work to conduct military operations, enhance combat readiness and enhance military capabilities,” he said in his work report for the inauguration. Annual Meeting of the Chinese Parliament.

China has the world’s largest military and its development and Beijing’s strategic objectives have caused concern regionally and in Washington, particularly as tensions over Chinese-claimed Taiwan have risen in recent years.

Beijing regularly says its military spending for defense purposes is a relatively small percentage of its GDP, and critics seek to demonize this as a threat to world peace.

“The armed forces should strengthen military training and readiness across the board, develop new military strategic directions, devote more energy to training in combat situations, and make well-coordinated efforts to strengthen military operations in all directions and domains,” Lee said. .

This year’s defense budget is yet to be released but is likely to be released later on Sunday when the government releases its overall 2023 budget.

(Reporting by Yu Lun Tian; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard and Simon Cameron-Moore)