Xi Jinping wants to turn the army into a “great steel wall” The warring factions complain about a lack of ammunition – the nightly update without photos

Chinese head of state and party leader Xi Jinping wants to turn the Chinese army into a “great wall of steel”. Speaking at the end of the annual session of the People’s Congress in Beijing on Monday, the president said modernization of the People’s Liberation Army should be promoted “to effectively protect national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

Against the background of tensions with the US, the People’s Congress had earlier this year approved a sharp increase in defense spending of 7.2 percent.

Xi Jinping called for “reunification” with Taiwan. Relations should be developed “peacefully”, but “outside interference” and “splitting activities” by the Taiwanese independence forces should be firmly rejected, Xi Jinping said in his address to nearly 3,000 deputies at the Great Hall of the People. The unification process must continue “unwaveringly”.

This time, however, Xi Jinping did not repeat previous statements that Beijing would not rule out the use of military force if other efforts failed. Tensions around Taiwan had increased recently, but the president seemed relatively cautious in his comments about Taiwan.

The communist leadership considers the island’s Democratic Republic to be part of the People’s Republic established in 1949, although Taiwan was never part of it. Taiwan, which has a population of 23 million, has long considered itself independent. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, international concern grew that China might take similar measures against Taiwan.

In this case, the US would also be drawn further into the conflict as it has been committed since 1979 to Taiwan’s ability to defend itself. Until now it has mainly been about arms deliveries, but US President Joe Biden had gone further than his predecessors and even promised support from the US armed forces. (sda/dpa)