China's president tells army to prepare for war

China's president tells army to prepare for war

Agencies, Beijing

President Hu Jintao was named China's top military chief on Sunday, promptly telling the army to prepare for war to safeguard the country's territorial integrity, in an apparent reference to Taiwan.

In a move that marked the final step in China's first bloodless leadership transition, Hu, 62, replaced aging former leader Jiang Zemin, 78, as chairman of the state's Central Military Commission (CMC).

He was selected by an overwhelming majority of 2,886 votes to six against and five undecided at a meeting of China's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), the official Xinhua news agency said.

State television CCTV showed Hu bowing to the NPC delegates while they gave him a long round of applause.

Hu used his appointment on Sunday to show China's new leadership intended no let up in its determination to stop rival Taiwan from becoming independent.

The president told a meeting of military delegates to the NPC that China's top priority was safeguarding its territorial integrity.

"We must ... always place the task of defending national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and safeguarding the interests of national development above anything else," Hu was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

His comments came on the eve of a meeting on Monday in which the parliament is expected to pass an "anti-secession" law which gives the Chinese military the legal basis for attacking Taiwan if it moves towards independence.

At the same time, Beijing insists that despite the law, "non- peaceful means" will be used only as a "last resort."

Hu indicated that reunifying with Taiwan by force, as Beijing has often said it would do if necessary, was not far from China's mind.

"All comrades of the military should correctly understand the situation and resolutely perform the military's historical mission in the new century and the new development stage," he said.

"We shall step up preparations for possible military struggle and enhance our capabilities to cope with crises, safeguard peace, prevent wars and win the wars if any," Hu said.

The Chinese president had already succeeded Jiang in September as chairman of the Communist Party's CMC, which holds the real power over the world's largest military.

Sunday's appointment marks a further consolidation of power by Hu, whose rise to China's top leadership positions began in November 2002 when he replaced Jiang as secretary general of the Communist Party.

He took over from Jiang as state president in 2003.

With Sunday's appointment, Hu has taken over all of Jiang's responsibilities.

Like Jiang, Hu faces the handicap of having never served in the armed forces and like him, Hu is expected to win over loyalty from the military by promoting supporters to key positions and advocating modernization of the armed forces -- essentially keeping the top brass happy by boosting their budget.

On Sunday, Hu emphasized the importance of continuing to modernize the military, but underlined the need to "balance the country's economic development and national defense building," urging the military to modernize with "low cost yet high efficiency."

On Monday, the largely rubber stamp legislature is expected to approve a 12.6 percent year-on-year increase in the official military budget for this year.

Analysts said a major challenge Hu will face is maintaining a tough stand on Taiwan, to prevent the island Beijing wants reunified from declaring formal independence.

"It remains an important priority for the Chinese leadership ... each new leadership needs to show it has a credible position on Taiwan," said Brian Bridges, a political scientist at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday urged people to take to the streets on March 26 to protest against China's proposed anti-secession bill, which allows for the use of force against the island.

The president called for 1 million people to join a protest organized by his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei on March 26.

"All people, all families should mobilize and take part in the rally for democracy, peace and the protection of Taiwan," Chen told a DPP party congress on Saturday.