Xi Jinping calls for stronger border defences ahead of China’s PLA anniversary

According to Xinhua, the official news agency of China, President Xi Jinping on Wednesday has called for the building of strong border, sea and air defences to protect the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.

Border, sea and air defence is an important symbol of China’s sovereignty, and a key guarantee for the country’s development, Xinhua quoted Xi as saying on Tuesday at a collective study session of the Communist Party’s politburo.

Such collective study sessions are often conducted at a gap of one or two months to offer clues to the current thinking and priorities of China’s top political leadership.

Xi appointed a new head of the armed force overseeing China’s conventional and nuclear missiles, just a few days after the July 2023 study session on strengthening military governance. This appointment came on the eve of the 96th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army’s founding on Aug. 1. In China, Xi Jinping is also the military’s commander-in-chief.

The study session of June 2024 centered around party governance and corruption. In mid-July, the party removed its former defence minister, Li Shangfu, and former PLA Rocket Force commander Li Yuchao, from the party for corruption.

“We must coordinate the promotion of border, sea and air defence construction and the economic and social development of border and coastal areas,” Xinhua quoted Xi as saying at Tuesday’s study session, ahead of the 97th PLA anniversary.

Xi further added, “China must also be more empowered technologically, and must build “new means and conditions” as it strengthens its border, sea and air defences”.

The Chinese government increased its 2024 defence budget by 7.2%, in line with the rate in last year’s budget and again well above the government’s annual economic growth forecast.