 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged greater development of China's military Saturday, saying modernizaton of the army was of strategic importance to safeguard the eventual reunification of Taiwan. "Strengthening national defense and developing the army constitute a task of strategic importance to our modernization drive and an important guarantee for safeguarding national security and reunification," Wen said at the opening session of the annual National People's Congress (NPC). Wen said it was an "historical objective" to ensure that the army "is capable of winning any war it fights," but also underscored the importance of the military being run "strictly in accordance with the law."
| "The Law. Chinese Law. Commie Chinese Law. Red Commie Chinese Law. Yeah, that Law." |
The NPC is due to pass an "anti-secession law" on Taiwan, a move seen as defining the legal terms in which China can use military force to reunify the island territory, which it considers a part of its territorial integrity. The draft law has yet to be made public. "Taking the military strategy for the new period as our overall guide, we will actively promote the revolution in military affairs with Chinese characteristics and enhance the army's ability to use information technology in fighting integrated warfare," Wen said. "We will greatly strengthen defense-related science and technology industries." |