GET READY FOR WAR: Chinese President Xi Jinping to Chinese troops

Xi made these remarks while visiting a Marine Corps base in the Guangdong province, where he made an important speech, Xinhua reported.

In his speech, Xinhua reported, "Xi Jinping pointed out that we must put all our minds and energy on preparing for war and maintain a state of high alert."

According to Xinhua, Xi emphasised that it is necessary to uphold the party's absolute leadership over the military, strengthen the party's innovative theoretical arms, and pay close attention to comprehensively and strictly govern the party and the military.

"And ensure that the troops are absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, and absolutely reliable," Xi told the troops.

Xi also called for carrying on the "red gene" and creating a spirit "that is not afraid of hardship and death".

"It is necessary to carry forward the fine traditions, carry on the red gene, build the unique military culture of the Marine Corps, cultivate a fighting spirit that is not afraid of hardship and death, and bring the troops to life," Xi added.

The Marine Corps performs diverse tasks and requires multiple capabilities, Xi said.

Xi's emphasis was on combat training. "It is necessary to persist in leading training by combat, strengthen task traction, strengthen targeted and confrontational training, and beat and exercise the troops hard and severely," the Chinese President said.

He added that it is necessary to promote innovations in combat theory, training models, and task organisation to improve training levels and actual combat capabilities.

Xi said it is necessary to strengthen the integration of subordinate combat forces, combat units, and combat elements, strengthen coordination with other services, straighten out related command and support relationships, and deeply integrate into the joint combat system.

It was not clear if Xi's rallying the troops is aimed at India or the US as China is engaged in a tense standoff with both the countries. (IANS)