Chinese President Xi tells his army 'not to fear death' and 'prepare to win wars' as he addresses military commanders

  • President Xi gave the speech Wednesday to the Central Military Commission
  • The Chinese leader stressed the importance and urgency of war readiness
  • Xi urged soldiers to step up combat training and 'not to fear death and hardship'
  • He had called for military preparations amid tensions with the US and Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged his troops not to fear death and focus on preparing to win wars while addressing military commanders.

He told his armed forces on Wednesday to step up training under combat conditions and 'not fear death and hardship', reported state media, citing the leader. 

Xi has previously called for military readiness amid spiking political tensions between Beijing and other countries, particularly the US and self-ruled Taiwan, over coronavirus pandemic, territorial disputes and human rights.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured on November 25 in Bejing) has urged his troops to not fear death and focus on preparing to win wars in an address to military commanders

Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured on November 25 in Bejing) has urged his troops to not fear death and focus on preparing to win wars in an address to military commanders

Addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25, the Chinese leader again stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations. Xi is quoted by state news agency Xinhua by saying that the key to winning wars is to strengthen training

Addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25, the Chinese leader again stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations. Xi is quoted by state news agency Xinhua by saying that the key to winning wars is to strengthen training

Last month, the Communist leader told his Navy troops to ‘focus all [your] minds and energy on preparing for war and maintain a high level of alert' during a tour in Chaozhou of Guangdong province.

While visiting the marine base, Xi urged the soldiers to 'speed up improving [their combat capabilities]' in order to become a 'multi-functional, rapid response, all-weather and region' elite force.

The Chinese leader again stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations while addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25.

Speaking to a full room of military commanders, Xi is quoted by state news agency Xinhua by saying that the key to winning wars is to strengthen training.

The Chinese leader stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations while addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25. President Xi Jinping is pictured awarding military officers for their achievement during the meeting on Wednesday

The Chinese leader stressed the importance and urgency of war preparations while addressing the Central Military Commission in Beijing on November 25. President Xi Jinping is pictured awarding military officers for their achievement during the meeting on Wednesday

Xi called for the forces to maintain the fighting spirits of ¿fearing neither hardship nor death¿, adding that the country's military development and situation entered 'a new era'. The screenshot from CCTV shows a group of soldiers being awarded by President Xi and officials

Xi called for the forces to maintain the fighting spirits of ‘fearing neither hardship nor death’, adding that the country's military development and situation entered 'a new era'. The screenshot from CCTV shows a group of soldiers being awarded by President Xi and officials

‘Military training is the regular and central task of the army. It is the basic way to generate and improve combat effectiveness. It is the most direct preparation for military battles,’ said Xinhua, citing the leader. 

Xi also called for the forces to maintain the fighting spirits of ‘fearing neither hardship nor death’, adding that the country's military development and situation entered 'a new era'. 

He insisted that the party's goal was turning the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a world-class fighting force. 

The news comes as China's propaganda machine has been boasting about its military capabilities while sending warnings to other countries amid souring relations with the US and Taiwan.

Earlier this month, China's state broadcaster released footage of the country's soldiers launching multiple missiles to take down enemy targets during a live-fire drill. 

In a clip released by Beijing in September, nuclear-capable bombers are seen carrying out a simulated attack on what appears to be the US Andersen Air Force Base on the Pacific island of Guam. 

China has been flexing its military muscles since tensions heightened between China and the United States over Taiwan.

Washington approved two sales of weapon and defence systems worth around $4.2billion (£3.25billion) to the democratically ruled island - moves that infuriated Beijing.

In response, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs vowed retaliation against the United States and announced sanctions on American companies involved in the weapon deals, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin.