Xi tells military to always be combat ready

Preparedness vital in era of drastic changes, unpredictable risks, president says

President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Friday ordered the armed forces to continue strengthening their combat preparedness and to make sure they are always ready for battle.

Addressing a Central Military Commission meeting in Beijing, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is in an era of drastic changes and China is still in a strategically significant period vital to the country's development. He noted that various predicable and unpredictable risks and challenges have been arising. 

The president urged the military to be fully aware of the nation's security and development trends, to strengthen troops' awareness of crisis, challenges and combat, and to make solid and comprehensive preparations for military operations. 

The People's Liberation Army and Armed Police Force must focus on improving their combat capability and whatever they do must be for the betterment of their combat readiness, Xi said. 

He requested that the military boost strategic and tactical planning so troops can effectively and rapidly respond to possible contingencies. He also told the military to improve its joint operation capability.

New types of fighting forces should be the priority in the military's development and more realistic combat training must be held, according to Xi. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012, the armed forces have had many remarkable, innovative and historic achievements amid sophisticated situations at home and abroad as well as heavy military tasks, Xi said.

Government departments at central and local levels should continue supporting the military and work together with the armed forces to make them stronger, he said.

Also on Friday, Xi signed an order to open the annual training session of the armed forces. The order demands that troops hone their combat capability and that military units organize events on a regular basis to verify soldiers' ability. 

The armed forces must also strive to strengthen their readiness to respond to emergencies. Commanders must take the lead in studying the art of war and also must be the first to carry out training and exercises, according to the order. 

Exercises must be conducted based on real combat scenarios and should involve the simulation of complicated situations and the deployment of multiple weapons and equipment from different services, it stipulates.