President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12).&nbsp;

The report mentioned that Xi's comments were made during his naval inspection trip on Tuesday. The visit took place hours after the military drills by China's People's Liberation Army in region around Taiwan.&nbsp;

The military drills were launched in the aftermath of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, which angered China. During the visit, Tsai also met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.&nbsp;

The state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability".&nbsp;

Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;North Korea FIRES ballistic missile into seas between Japan and South Korea&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) mentioned that China has come up with new rules for the recruitment of soldiers in wartime.&nbsp;

The report noted that veterans have been listed as a priority, which according to military analysts means that it is an enhancement of PLA combat readiness for a war over Taiwan.&nbsp;

Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Xi said that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said committed to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12).

President Xi Jinping has asked China's military forces to focus on "strengthening the military training oriented towards actual combat", the nation's state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday (April 12). The report mentioned that Xi's comments were made during his naval inspection trip on Tuesday. The visit took place hours after the military drills by China's People's Liberation Army in region around Taiwan. The military drills were launched in the aftermath of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, which angered China. During the visit, Tsai also met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability". Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. WATCH | North Korea FIRES ballistic missile into seas between Japan and South Korea × Meanwhile, a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) mentioned that China has come up with new rules for the recruitment of soldiers in wartime. The report noted that veterans have been listed as a priority, which according to military analysts means that it is an enhancement of PLA combat readiness for a war over Taiwan. Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Xi said that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said committed to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid Taiwan tensions, Xi Jinping ask Chinese troops to strengthen training for ‘actual combat’

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has&nbsp;mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year&nbsp;due to which it&nbsp;has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget.

Mainland China’s repeated military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone are meant to drain the island’s air force and establish the PLA as a regular presence in the area.

China, which claims democratic&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what it&nbsp;calls "collusion" between&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and the United States.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warns-china-against-any-attempt-to-take-taiwan-by-force-333453">US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force</a>

Earlier, the United States&nbsp;national security adviser on Wednesday cautioned China&nbsp;against any attempt to take Taiwan by force.

He reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to&nbsp;to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-says-has-spent-almost-900-million-scrambling-against-china-this-year-333087">Taiwan says has spent almost $900 million scrambling against China this year</a>

China has been angered at increased US&nbsp;support for&nbsp;Taiwan, including visits by senior US&nbsp;government officials and ramped up arms sales.

In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the mid line of the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into&nbsp;Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone.

Speaking at parliament,&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft this year at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million).

"Recently the pressure has been great. To say otherwise would be deceiving people," Yen said, without giving a comparison figure for last year.

He clarified that a figure of 4,132 air force missions this year, as provided in a ministry parliamentary briefing paper, included training and regular patrol missions.

Yen said that the armed forces would this month carry out their own drills off&nbsp;Taiwan's southwest coast, though they would not be live fire.

Taiwan's armed forces are well-trained and well-equipped but are dwarfed by those of China's, and&nbsp;Taiwan's Defence Ministry has previously acknowledged the strain the repeated Chinese drills were placing on them.

Taiwan&nbsp;is in the process of revamping its fighter fleet.

The United States last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to&nbsp;Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island's total number of the aircraft to more than 200, the largest F-16 fleet in Asia.

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year due to which it has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget.

Taiwan's defence minister said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army has mounted thousands of incursions into the island’s defense zone this year due to which it has exhausted 8 per cent of its defence budget. Mainland China’s repeated military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone are meant to drain the island’s air force and establish the PLA as a regular presence in the area. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military activity near the island, responding to what it calls "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States. Also read: US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force Earlier, the United States national security adviser on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force. He reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries. Also read: Taiwan says has spent almost $900 million scrambling against China this year China has been angered at increased US support for Taiwan, including visits by senior US government officials and ramped up arms sales. In the past few weeks, Chinese fighter jets have crossed the mid line of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone, and flown multiple missions into Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone. Speaking at parliament, Taiwan Defence Minister Yen De-fa said to the air force had scrambled 2,972 times against Chinese aircraft this year at a cost of T$25.5 billion ($886.49 million). "Recently the pressure has been great. To say otherwise would be deceiving people," Yen said, without giving a comparison figure for last year. He clarified that a figure of 4,132 air force missions this year, as provided in a ministry parliamentary briefing paper, included training and regular patrol missions. Yen said that the armed forces would this month carry out their own drills off Taiwan's southwest coast, though they would not be live fire. Taiwan's armed forces are well-trained and well-equipped but are dwarfed by those of China's, and Taiwan's Defence Ministry has previously acknowledged the strain the repeated Chinese drills were placing on them. Taiwan is in the process of revamping its fighter fleet. The United States last year approved an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would bring the island's total number of the aircraft to more than 200, the largest F-16 fleet in Asia.

China is trying to wear out Taiwan's Air Force by incursions, says defence minister

Chinese state media on Tuesday reported that Beijing had unveiled a new weapons system amid&nbsp;growing tensions with Taiwan and the US.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-finalizes-purchase-of-66-f-16-fighter-jets-in-biggest-arms-deal-with-us-321434" hreflang="en">Taiwan finalizes purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets in biggest arms deal with US</a>

According to China's state media, the country&nbsp;has come up with a 500kg precision-guided munitions dispenser and air-to-surface missile called the "Tianlei 500", which translates to "Sky Thunder". A senior engineer in the report said that the&nbsp;weapon can carry six types of submunitions and attack different targets.

The announcement comes after heightened tensions with Taiwan and the US over Hong Kong and the escalating&nbsp;South China Sea dispute.&nbsp;

The Taiwanese government on Monday had said that it was stepping up its efforts to cross-check new arrivals from the city of Hong Kong in order to prevent Chinese spies from entering the country.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-cia-officer-arrested-for-giving-classified-information-to-china-321365">Former CIA officer arrested for giving classified information to China</a>

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council had said that it was “strengthening the management” of Hong Kong and Macau residents who are originally from mainland China, or who are the current or previous party, government or military officials, and aimed to prevent them from “carrying out infiltration, united front, disturbance or spying activities”.&nbsp;

The highest-level meeting between the US and Taiwan in four decades angered Beijing. China warned the US not to “play with fire”.

Recently, Taiwan finalized its purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets from American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin in the biggest arms sale to the island country in years.&nbsp;

Chinese state media on Tuesday reported that Beijing had unveiled a new weapons system amid growing tensions with Taiwan and the US. Also read: Taiwan finalizes purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets in biggest arms deal with US According to China's state media, the country has come up with a 500kg precision-guided munitions dispenser and air-to-surface missile called the "Tianlei 500", which translates to "Sky Thunder".

Chinese state media on Tuesday reported that Beijing had unveiled a new weapons system amid growing tensions with Taiwan and the US. Also read: Taiwan finalizes purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets in biggest arms deal with US According to China's state media, the country has come up with a 500kg precision-guided munitions dispenser and air-to-surface missile called the "Tianlei 500", which translates to "Sky Thunder". A senior engineer in the report said that the weapon can carry six types of submunitions and attack different targets. The announcement comes after heightened tensions with Taiwan and the US over Hong Kong and the escalating South China Sea dispute. The Taiwanese government on Monday had said that it was stepping up its efforts to cross-check new arrivals from the city of Hong Kong in order to prevent Chinese spies from entering the country. Also read: Former CIA officer arrested for giving classified information to China Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council had said that it was “strengthening the management” of Hong Kong and Macau residents who are originally from mainland China, or who are the current or previous party, government or military officials, and aimed to prevent them from “carrying out infiltration, united front, disturbance or spying activities”. The highest-level meeting between the US and Taiwan in four decades angered Beijing. China warned the US not to “play with fire”. Recently, Taiwan finalized its purchase of 66 F-16 fighter jets from American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin in the biggest arms sale to the island country in years.

China unveils new weapons system 'Sky Thunder' amid tensions with Taiwan: Report

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