Xi Jinping Calls For His Military To Be Ready For War, Provoked By The US?

Xi Jinping (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping asked military forces to put all their minds and energy into preparing for war. This was made during a visit to a military base in Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, according to state news agency Xinhua. Was the call a response to the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan?

While inspecting the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps in Chaozhou City, Xinhua, Xi Jinping exclaimed: "Continue to be on high alert." He also asked them to be completely loyal, utterly pure, and utterly reliable.

The main objective of Xi Jinping's visit to Guangdong is to deliver a speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which was founded in 1980. The establishment of the Special Economic Zone aims to attract foreign capital and play a key role in helping China's economy become the second largest in the world.

Launch CNN , Thursday, October 15th, military visits are also made when China and the United States (US) arguing at the highest point in decades. China and the US do not agree on many things, some of which are regarding Taiwan and the COVID-19 pandemic which has created sharp divisions.

Provoked by the US?

Earlier the White House notified the US Congress that it plans to continue the sale of three advanced weapon systems to Taiwan, including the advanced High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). In the strong response from China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian asked Uncle Sam's Affairs to immediately cancel plans to sell weapons to Taiwan and cut all US-Taiwan military ties.

Although Taiwan has never been controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the authorities in China insist the democratic and self-governing island is an integral part of their territory. Xi Jinping himself refuses to rule out military might to seize Taiwan if necessary.

Despite the Chinese government's disapproval, relations between the US and Taiwan have grown closer under the Trump administration. In August, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited Taiwan. Azar traveled to Taiwan to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, China is stepping up military exercises around Taiwan. Nearly 40 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line between the mainland and Taiwan on September 18-19. China carried out one of several sorties that island President Tsai Ing-wen described as a "threat to force".