Beijing, the capital city of China, is currently undergoing a significant shift in its military strategy. For decades, the Chinese military has focused on winning local wars, but now, there is a new directive to focus on winning wars against „strong enemies and opponents.“ This shift comes at a time when Beijing is facing mounting challenges on multiple fronts, including from the United States.
President Xi Jinping has directed the People’s Liberation Army to improve its strategic ability to defend the country’s sovereignty and development interests. This directive was given during the celebration of the 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping, who is widely hailed as the paramount leader and the architect of modern China. Xi praised Deng’s outstanding contributions to the ruling Communist Party of China and highlighted his emphasis on building a modern military.
In his address, Xi emphasized the need to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that Deng initiated. He also recalled Deng’s emphasis on building a strong, modernized, and well-organized military with fewer but better troops. As the Commander-in-Chief of the PLA, Xi instructed the military to improve its strategic ability to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
A member of the Central Military Commission, Miao Hua, stated that in the new journey, the focus should be on strengthening capabilities to defeat strong enemies and opponents. This shift in focus is seen as a major course correction for the Chinese military, considering the challenges China faces on multiple fronts, including border disputes with India, maritime disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea, and tensions with Taiwan.
The latest directive to win wars against „strong enemies and opponents“ reflects the changing geopolitical landscape and the increasing rivalry between China and the United States. Analysts believe that this strategic shift is in line with Beijing’s assessment of the risks it faces and its growing focus on security.
Overall, Beijing’s new focus on winning wars against „strong enemies and opponents“ marks a significant shift in China’s military strategy. As the country faces mounting challenges and increasing rivalry with the United States, it is clear that Beijing is prioritizing its military capabilities to defend its sovereignty and development interests.