NAN-F-29
Navy
Beijing, May 24, 2017 (Reuters/NAN) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for greater efforts to make the country’s navy a world class one, strong in operations on below and above the surface.
Xi, who made this known while inspecting the navy headquarters at Beijing said this became necessary as the China navy steps up its ability to project power far from its shores.
China’s navy has taken an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and a new aircraft carrier launched in April.
With President Donald Trump promising a U.S. shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues includes Taiwan and the South and East China Seas.
According to the Defence Ministry, Xi China is pushing to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.
“The navy should aim for the top ranks in the world.
“Building a strong and modern navy is an important mark of a top ranking global military; it is a pivot for building the nation into a great maritime power.
“Innovation is key to improving and transforming the navy,” the ministry paraphrased Xi as saying.
He said that the navy should be able to operate far out at sea, combining the strength of forces on the water, under it and in the skies above.
Xi said he had personally been paying close attention to naval missions.
“You continuously fight wind and waves.
“Thanks for your hard work!” state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
China’s military ambitions, including taking a more assertive stance in the disputed South China Sea such as building artificial islands and ramping up defence spending have long rattled its neighbours.
Beijing this year initially failed to release its defence budget on the opening day of parliament in March as it has done in previous years.
It said that a day later, that it would rise by seven per cent to 151.6 billion dollars.
China’s defence spending amounts to only about a quarter of the U.S. defence budget, although many experts believe its actual spending on the military to be higher than the official figure.
It does not give a breakdown for its spending.
The government denied China was a military threat to anyone, saying “its spending is for defensive purposes only.’’ (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf