Chinese troops told not to fear death in historic address by President Xi

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President Xi wore combat fatigues and black leather gloves in his speech to thousands of military personnel. (Photo courtesy: Xinhua)
President Xi wore combat fatigues and black leather gloves in his speech to thousands of military personnel. (Photo courtesy: Xinhua)

(TibetanReview.net, Jan06, 2018) – It is easy to tell soldiers not to fear “hardship or death” and remain prepared for war when one’s own life is not only not on the line but is also the most protected one in the country. That is exactly what President Xi Jinping of China was reported to have said, addressing a rally by thousands of troops on a grand display of strength on Jan 3 morning.

At 10 am in the northern province of Hebei, Xi told 7,000 heavily armed officers and soldiers standing in formation that they should not fear “hardship or death” as they fight for their country’s Communist values, reported newsweek.com Jan 4. He was reported to have encouraged the troops to “enhance their military training and combat readiness” to “grasp the capability to win battles” as dictated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

“Commanders and personnel should firmly implement the decisions and instructions by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC (Central Military Commission) with a fighting spirit of fearing neither hardship nor death,” Xi was quoted as saying.

The official People’s Daily newspaper said troops had gathered in 4,000 separate locations to hear President Xi’s speech. (Photo courtesy: Xinhua)
Chinese army puts on show of military might for Xi Jinping. (Photo courtesy: Xinhua)

He was reported to have called for leading officers to set an example for their troops and implement rigorous combat training throughout the forces.

The report cited a front page report in The People’s Daily, the country’s party mouthpiece, as saying officers proudly sang the People’s Liberation Army military song in unison before welcoming Xi onto the stage with thunderous applause.

Xu Guangyu, a retired major general, was reported to have emphasized the historic significance of the address, telling the official Global Times newspaper that the address marked “the first time since the founding of the country that instructions on military training have been directly issued by the chairman of the CMC, and it shows that improving combat readiness is now a strategic mission for the Chinese military.”

The address was simultaneously broadcast to 4,000 other military bases across the People’s Republic of China – spanning the country’s army, navy and air forces. The troops were ordered to watch Xi’s address via a live feed, the report said, citing the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

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