Xi to focus on military prowess:
Asia
China needs to place greater focus on developing a military-industrial complex, much like the United States has done, to ensure a powerful armed forces commensurate with its place in the world, a senior officer wrote in a new book.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has set great store on China’s military modernisation, including developing an ocean-going “blue water” navy, stealth jets and other advanced technologies to better defend the country’s growing global interests.
In a collection of essays released this week by top officials on the 13th five-year plan, which maps out economic targets up to 2020, Xu Qiliang, a vice chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, said China needs security to be able to develop its economy.
Citing ancient Chinese philosopher Shang Yang, who helped create a powerful military force in one of the early Chinese states, Xu said a country cannot get rich without decent armed forces.
“Security is a precondition for development, and development is the material base for security,” Xu wrote.
Many countries already mesh civilian resources with military development, and this is a necessary choice for China, he added.
“The Manhattan Project and the Apollo Program of the United States and China’s great undertakings like the Shenzhou space craft and Chang’e moon probe are very good examples,” Xu wrote. (RTRS)