BEIJING (CHINA) – Marking the 70th anniversary of the deployment of Chinese soldiers in the Korean War to fight against US troops on Friday, President Xi Jinping said the country will never allow its sovereignty, security and development interests to be harmed.
The president did not directly refer to the US with which ties have been badly strained over disputes ranging from trade, technology, human rights and the coronavirus. The issue of Taiwan has also fomented tensions with Washington.
“Let the world know that ‘the people of China are now organised, and are not to be trifled with’,” he said at the Great Hall of the People, quoting Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China.
Unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying would fail, Xi said.
Xi stressed the need to modernise the country’s defence forces. “Without a strong army, there can be no strong motherland,” he said.
North Korea and South Korea clashed in 1950 and Seoul was supported by US troops. In October 1950, Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River on the border with North Korea as Soviet jets provided air cover.
More than 2 million Chinese troops took part in the war to support the North.
