Ahead of a joint military drill between the United States and South Korea, a Chinese military daily has said the country must continue to enhance its strength to fight "against the international hegemony."
The People's Liberation Army Daily published a declarative article, stressing that China should speed up improving its combat capability in order to maintain peace in the region.
"A nation's power is closely related to a nation's prosperity," the article said.
The daily urged a quick transition and improvement of the comprehensive military force so that China can respond not only to traditional security threats, but also to non-traditional threats.
It also emphasised China's strategic objectives and operating style are different in essence from those of "the Western military powers."
The statement came following an announcement that the joint military drills between the United States and South Korea will take place in the East Sea beginning on Sunday.
The two allies originally planned to stage massive anti-submarine exercises this month in waters off the Korean Peninsula's west coast in a show of force against North Korea following the regime's deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
China has repeatedly opposed the planned drills in the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean Peninsula, claiming they would pose a threat to its security.
{{/usCountry}}China has repeatedly opposed the planned drills in the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean Peninsula, claiming they would pose a threat to its security.
{{/usCountry}}In an apparent concession to China's objections, South Korea and the US changed the location for next week's joint drill from the western coast to waters off South Korea's east coast.