Chinas Xi calls for more quickly elevating armed forces

News Summary

  • In a nod to a China-U.S. relationship that has sunk to its lowest level in decades, she said Washington “should meet China halfway and push China-U.S. relations back on the track of sound and stable development, which is beneficial to both countries and the world.”
  • BEIJING (AP) — China’s leader Xi Jinping has called for “more quickly elevating the armed forces to world-class standards,” in a speech just days after a top diplomat warned of the growing possibility of conflict with the U.S. unless Washington changes course.
  • Xi also mentioned the need for “achieving the goals for the centenary of the PLA in 2027,” a date by which, according to some U.S. observers, China intends to have the capability of conquering self-governing Taiwan, an American ally, by military means.
  • A State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, responded by saying Washington wants to “coexist responsibly” within the global trade and political system and has no intention of suppressing China.“This is not about containing China.
  • “This is a strategic risk that we can’t accept or ignore,” she added.
  • This is not about holding China back,” Price said in Washington.
BEIJING (AP) Chinas leader Xi Jinping has called for more quickly elevating the armed forces to worldclass standards, in a speech just days after a top diplomat warned of the growing possibility of [+6142 chars]