Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year speech on the eve of the year 2019 in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Nikkei Asian Review: Xi's US strategy recalls Mao's 'protracted war'
Chinese leader calls on people to unite for an extended battle.
TOKYO -- Chinese President Xi Jinping ushered in the new year with a strikingly unfestive message at a meeting of the Central Military Commission: "Enhance combat capability."
Addressing military leaders on Jan. 4, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the Central Military Commission, instructed all forces and all resources to "focus on military preparedness" and to ensure marked progress.
It is not unusual for China's top leader to call for military readiness, but at one point in the speech, Xi mentioned "military preparedness" three times in one sentence.
Xi's remarks came amid intensifying frictions between China and the U.S. over trade and other issues. At first glance, Xi might have looked as if he were ordering his troops to prepare for combat with the U.S.
But that does not seem to be the case. Since last December a "top secret" foreign policy strategy has been circulating on China's social media.
"Do not oppose the U.S. Do not lead Sino-U.S. relations into a Cold War. Open up the market. Do not yield on core interests," it said.
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WNU Editor: Everyone of my contacts in China are telling me the same thing. There will be no concessions from China on trade (contrary to what we hear from the White House and the media), and the long term strategy is to wait out President Trump and hope that he is defeated in 2020. My take is slightly different. The Chinese are going to throw a few bones at President Trump .... Xi Jinping will Give Donald Trump a Victory on Trade (National Interest), and then renege on this deal after his election loss in 2020 (if he loses).
