BEIJING: China's leader Xi Jinping has called for faster military development and offered little in way of reconciliation to Washington, which recently imposed sweeping curbs of Beijing's semiconductor ambitions.

President Xi stresses on military and technological developments in a speech to some 2,000 Chinese Communist Party delegates.

China has world's second-largest defence budget after United States and is trying to extend its reach by developing ballistic missiles, aircraft carriers and overseas outposts. Xi spoke on Sunday as party opened a congress that was closely watched by companies, governments and Chinese public.

People's Liberation Army needs to "safeguard China's dignity and core interests," Xi said, referring to a list of territorial claims and other issues over which Beijing says it is ready to go to war.  "We will work faster to modernise military theory, personnel and weapons," Xi said in speech. "We will enhance military's strategic capabilities."

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 17 2022

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