The Chinese President has told elite combat troops to focus on "preparing for war" and maintaining "high alert" during a recent visit to their base.
Chinese news agency Xinhua reports that Xi Jinping visited the province of Guangdong on Wednesday (local time) to inspect the country's Marine Corps, a group of elite amphibious combat troops.
The media article, subsequently reported on by the likes of CNN as well as other Chinese state media, says while at the Chaoshan base, Xi spoke about the need of "strengthening the army in the new era" and accelerating the improvement of combat capabilities for national security reasons.
He also told troops of the need for military preparedness.
"Xi Jinping pointed out that we must put all our minds and energy on preparing for war and maintain a state of high alert," an English translation of the Xinhua report says.
It says Xi expects troops to be "absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable".
The Global Times, a state-run Chinese outlet, said Xi wants the Marine Corps to "forge a powerful troop, with battle wise soldiers".
"Chinese military analysts said that the inspection to the corps sent a signal that China will speed up its preparation for any potential military conflict in the water areas and islands in regions like the Taiwan Straits, South and East China Seas, as well as the regions of significant overseas interests, as the strategic pressure from foreign hostile forces against China is increasing," the Global Times says.
It noted that improving the corps' capability to "win the battle" is important "if it needs to use military means to solve the Taiwan question", referencing tensions between mainland China and Taiwan, which China says is part of its territory despite Taiwan being self-governed.
According to CNN, Donald Trump's administration this week notified Congress that it was planning to sell advanced weaponry to Taiwan, something China immediately bit back at.
The warm relationship between Taiwan and the US under Trump has drawn condemnation from China.
The COVID-19 pandemic escalated tensions globally around the Taiwan issue, with many countries calling for the island to be given a role at the World Health Organization, something China opposes. New Zealand's Foreign Minister supported Tawian's inclusion.
