President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to prepare for war.
Xi Jinping has told China's troops to prepare for war
The president has warned that the country's national security is facing "increased instability and uncertainty" as he made the declaration during a visit to the joint operations command centre of the Central Military Commission in Beijing.
Xi is quoted by the state-owned media outlet Xinhua as saying: "The entire military should devote all its energy to and carry out all its work for combat readiness, enhance its capability to fight and win."
The outlet added: "Xi stressed that China's national security is facing increased instability and uncertainty, and its military tasks remain arduous.
"He demanded that the entire armed forces implement the (Chinese Communist) Party's thinking on strengthening the military for the new era, follow the military strategy for the new era and adhere to combat effectiveness as the sole criterion.
"Xi also instructed them to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and successfully complete various tasks entrusted by the Party and the people."
The announcement comes amid fears that China is preparing its troops to invade the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
Xi was recently reinstated for an unprecedented third term as leader of the Chinese Communist Party and could effectively be in power for life after abolishing the two-term limit on his presidency in 2018.