President Xi Jinping stated on Monday that despite escalating tensions with the United States, China must modernise its military to make it a “Great Wall of Steel” if it is to maintain security and advance economically.
First speaking during his historic third term as president, Xi urged China to improve its capacity to oversee and protect the country’s security systems.
“Security is the basis for growth, stability is the requirement for prosperity,” he remarked at the end of the annual parliament session.
By replacing senior security officials with his close supporters, the ruling Communist Party is anticipated to strengthen party monitoring over security-related issues.
With the United States’ ban on China’s access to advanced technologies such as chip manufacturing machinery, Xi also stated on Monday that China must increase its scientific and technological strength and self-reliance.
In reference to Taiwan, a key manufacturer of semiconductors and the self-governing island that China claims as its own, Xi stated that China must reject separatist and pro-independence movements as well as other forces’ meddling.
