Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, has called on the country’s submarine force to strive for greater accomplishments. In a speech delivered to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s Submarine Force on April 25, 2020, Xi said that the submarine force should “fully recognize the importance of its mission, forge ahead with determination and courage, and strive for greater accomplishments.”
He stressed that the submarine force should “deepen its understanding of the strategic role of the submarine force and enhance its awareness of mission, and strive to develop into a world-class submarine force with Chinese characteristics.”
Xi also urged the submarine force to strengthen its overall combat capability and enhance its ability to accomplish its mission under various conditions. He said that the submarine force should “accelerate the development of new submarines, new weapons and new equipment, improve operational readiness and training level, and enhance its ability to participate in joint operations.”
He added that the submarine force should “continue to adhere to the principle of serving the country, safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the country, and make new and greater contributions to the construction of a strong navy and a strong country.”