Ready for war! China flaunts footage of its troops taking part in live-fire training after President Xi ordered his two million soldiers to be prepared for combat ‘at all times’
- Xi on Monday signed a mobilisation order for the training of all armed forces
- He directed his troops to be ready for war ‘at all times’ and ‘not to fear death’
- Soldiers jumped into action for live-fire drills immediately, reported state TV
- Footage shows tanks opening fire and missiles being launched in exercises
- Experts believed the order implied China ‘is indeed facing a great risk of war’
China’s state TV has shown off footage of Chinese troops taking part in live-fire military drills after President Xi Jinping ordered his soldiers to be ready for war ‘at all times’.
The country’s two million or so soldiers ‘jumped into action’ upon receiving their leader’s instruction to get themselves prepared for combat, reported China’s state media.
Xi urged members of the Chinese People’s Liberation of Army, the world’s largest army, ‘not to fear death’ in a mobilisation order signed by him on Monday.
China’s President Xi Jinping urged his People’s Liberation of Army ‘not to fear death’ in a mobilisation order signed by him on January 4. In this file photo, Xi speaks after he reviewed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018
Xi commanded his troops to step up training in ‘real combat conditions’ to ensure their combat readiness and abilities to win battles. Pictured, Chinese soldiers assemble during military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern China’s Xinjiang region on January 4
Dramatic footage released by the country’s official TV channel shows mask-donning soldiers standing in formation as they receive the directive from their President.
The Chinese land, air and naval forces launched their training sessions as soon as the order was issued, according to the video released by China Central Television through its social media account.
The minute-long clip shows armed soldiers running, jumping out of military aircraft and hunting for enemies in mock battles.
It also shows multiple warships sailing and opening fire, rows of military tanks initiating attacks and missiles being launched during intense exercises.
On Monday, Xi commanded his troops to step up training in ‘real combat conditions’ to ensure their combat readiness and abilities to win battles, according to a script of his order released by Xinhua News Agency.
Xi is the head of the Chinese military. He serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
In the first order from the CMC in 2021, Xi called on the People’s Liberation of Army (PLA) not to fear hardship or death.
He demanded all servicemen sharpen their fighting spirit and perfect their combat skills to welcome the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China this year.
Xi demanded all servicemen sharpen their fighting spirit and perfect their combat skills. A female soldier is pictured attending military training Pamir Mountains in Kashgar on January 4
Speaking to South China Morning Post, Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said: ‘China is indeed facing a great risk of war, which has been seriously implied in this order.’ Chinese soldiers are seen taking part in military training in Kashgar on January 4
Military commanders must strengthen joint operations in combat and training for soldiers across different fields and services, Xi added.
Observers suggested that Xi’s latest order showed the leader’s intention to boost the PLA’s capability of winning a war at all cost.
Speaking to South China Morning Post, Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping said: ‘China is indeed facing a great risk of war, which has been seriously implied in this order.’
Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured on November 25 in Bejing) urged his troops to not fear death and focus on preparing to win wars in an address to military commanders in November
Addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25, the Chinese leader again stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations. Xi is quoted by state news agency Xinhua by saying that the key to winning wars is to strengthen training
Xi regularly uses feisty words in addresses to his armies to ensure that all soldiers are on standby for potential military conflicts.
In November, he also urged his troops not to fear death and to prepare to win wars while addressing military commanders.
Xi has previously called for military readiness amid spiking political tensions between China and other countries, particularly the US and self-ruled Taiwan, over coronavirus pandemic, territorial disputes and human rights.