Be combat ready, China asks armed forces

The remarks of Jin and other PLA members of Chinas Parliament, National Peoples Congress, came at the ongoing NPC session just two days after China announced a steep 17.6 per cent hike in its defence budget for 2008 and issued a stern warning to Taiwan that it would pay a 8216;dear price8217; for its 8216;secessionist activities8217;.

Taiwan had split from China during the civil war in 1949 but Beijing insists that the self-ruled island is part of its territory.

Jing, official Xinhua news agency said, asked the armed forces to provide 8216;solid military backup8217; for the nations realization of peaceful reunification.

Chang Wanquan, head of the PLA General Armaments Department, said development of high-tech weapons and equipment would be boosted to get keep the army combat-ready in a 8216;refined8217; way.

Liang Guanglie, a member of the Central Military Commission, told the troops to improve their capability to cope with various security threats and fulfill manifold military tasks.