China Orders Military Changes To Prepare for 'Engaging in Warfare'

Chinese President Xi Jinping has approved military reforms aimed at boosting combat readiness and preparing the armed forces for "engaging in warfare," set to take effect this spring, according to the Chinese government's website.

A U.S. Department of State spokesperson told Newsweek that "we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means."

Why It Matters

Tensions between the United States and China remain high over issues ranging from trade tariffs to military activity in the South China Sea, particularly with a focus on Taiwan.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory—a claim the self-governing island rejects. Although Washington does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, the U.S. remains Taiwan's largest supplier of foreign arms.

Xi has said that "reunification" with Taiwan is a national goal and has warned it may require the use of force.

What To Know

Xi, who serves as chairman of the Central Military Commission overseeing China's military, signed orders on regulations governing "the military's interior order, code of conduct and military formation" on Friday, the government said.

The changes are aimed at transforming China's military into "world-class armed forces," with a "more standardized order in war preparation, training, operations and daily life." The revised rules include updates to military appearance, conduct and training, with the most prominent focusing on preparing forces for "engaging in warfare."

China has previously staged military exercises and war games off Taiwan's coast, which is only separated by a 100-mile-wide strait. Taiwan maintains its own democratic autonomy from China despite Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island.

The U.S. adheres to a decades-long diplomatic agreement of the "One China" policy, which acknowledges, but does not endorse, China's claims over Taiwan. Earlier this week, a bipartisan Senate bill to counter this policy and affirm U.S. support for Taiwan was introduced.

The U.S. recognizes Taiwan as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region and maintains a "robust unofficial relationship" with the island, according to the U.S. State Department.

U.S.-China diplomacy is often strained over Taiwan, with Beijing noting in December statement that Taiwan is "the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations," and urged the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan.

The Chinese military has over 370 ships and submarines, forming the world's largest navy by hull count. This week, Australia and New Zealand noted the presence of Chinese naval vessels in the Tasman Sea, with the U.S. allies calling it "unusual."

What People Are Saying

A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek in an email on Monday afternoon: "We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We support cross-Strait dialogue, and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the Strait."

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., told Newsweek in November: "The Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. government needs to earnestly abide by the One China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués and prudently handle Taiwan-related issues so as to avoid severe damage to China-U.S. relations and cross-Strait peace and stability."

A spokesperson for the Australian Defense Department told Newsweek on Thursday: "Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace, under international law, particularly the [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea."

Senator James Risch, an Idaho Republican, said on Thursday when introducing a resolution countering the "One China Principle": "Let me make one thing very clear: America does not recognize China's claim over Taiwan. Once again, the Chinese government has attempted to trick the world and subvert the United Nations for its own purposes — but we see these malign tactics and stand in support of our friends in Taiwan."

What Happens Next?

The changes are set to take place on April 1.

Update 2/26/25, 10:06 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the State Department.