China Boosts Armed Forces to Challenge U.S. Military Dominance - TruNews (Rick Wiles)
Jan. 7, 2016
(TRUNEWS) China announced new boosts to its military forces Wednesday, in an effort to surpass the U.S. as the world’s mightiest military power.
The plan includes the construction of a new headquarters and the formation of three new units – a general command for the People’s Liberation Army, a missile force and a strategic support force.
State television showed Chinese President Xi Jinping giving military flags to the heads of the three new units last week. He also said he wants to continue working toward the “great renewal of the Chinese nation” and views building a strong military as the key.
But in an attempt to prove China poses no threat, Xi announced in September he would reduce China’s 2.3-million army by 300,000 troops.
The move comes as China boosts its posturing in the South China Sea, giving cause for concern to many of the neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific theater.
Prior to this latest escalation, Japan announced on December 18th that they will be stringing a line of anti-ship, anti-aircraft missile batteries along 200 islands in the East China Sea, stretching almost 1,400 km (870 miles) from the country’s mainland toward Taiwan.
Vietnam also made changes to their defense strategy to counter Chinese expansion, announcing a distinct move beyond contingency planning earlier this month. Reuters reported that key units were placed on “high combat readiness” – an alert posture to fend off a sudden attack – including its elite Division 308, which guards the mountainous north.
