the President of China, Xi Jinping, on Tuesday called for accelerated efforts to modernize the country’s national security capabilities and urged defense agencies to be prepared for “the worst and most extreme scenarios,” staterun Xinhua news agency reported. The statement was made during the first session of the National Security Commission of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Xi called for a “full awareness” of the “complicated and challenging” circumstances facing national security and the right approach to important national security issues. According to the meeting, the national security problems facing China today are “much more complex and much more difficult to solve.”
At the meeting, the Chinese leader also stressed the need to be prepared for “the worst and most extreme scenarios” and to withstand “strong winds, rough waters and even dangerous storms”.
The statement comes amid diplomatic tensions that China has been facing since the beginning of the year War between Russia and Ukraine. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in the 15 months since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. The two nations even discussed sending technical equipment from Beijing to Moscow. In addition, this relationship generates more and more distrust in European countries US.
At the same time, China still fears the risk of a confrontation with Taiwan. Adding to this are internal tensions, with citizens expressing dissatisfaction with the country’s policies, particularly the tougher measures recently put in place to combat the spread COVID19.
During the meeting, Xi called for “full awareness” of the “complicated and challenging” circumstances facing national security (file photo). Photo: EFE/EPA/FLORENCE LO / POOL
In order to strengthen the country’s political security, the meeting also called for improving the security of internet data and artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT. China has cracked down on its tech sector to restore partisan control, but like other countries it is struggling to find ways to regulate rapidly evolving AI technology.
China needs a “new development pattern with a new security architecture,” Xi said. A document on accelerating the construction of a national security risk monitoring and early warning system and another document on strengthening public communication on national security were adopted at the meeting./With AP.