Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China’s military must “dare to fight” during an inspection of military units in a region near Taiwan, Chinese state television reported, AFP and Agerpres reported.

Xi’s visit comes at an important time in diplomatic relations with the US – Taiwan’s main security supporter – as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is currently in Beijing to try to stabilize relations between Beijing and Washington and improve bilateral trade relations.

During an inspection of the Eastern Command of the People’s Liberation Army, based in Nanjing, Xi told officials he met that they must “dare to fight, know how to fight, and be resolute to protect national sovereignty and security.” , state television CCTV reported.

“We need to deepen our planning for war and combat operations, focus on preparing for real combat, and accelerate the improvement of our ability to win,” he further stated.

The military should also “enhance the ability of party committee leaders to prepare for war and fight,” Xi said, according to CCTV.

Taiwan, the most sensitive issue between the disputes between Beijing and Washington

China considers Taiwan one of its provinces, which it has yet to reunite with the rest of its territory after the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Beijing says it intends to regain control of the island at some point, even by force if necessary.

The issue of Taiwan is the most sensitive of the disputes between Beijing and Washington.

China began large-scale military exercises around the island within a year of official meetings between senior US and Taiwanese officials.

In April, Chinese troops carried out maneuvers simulating a blockade of Taiwan immediately after a meeting in the US between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.