Chinese President Xi Jinping, who inspected the brigade of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) recently, asked Beijing's strategic missile troops to strengthen their deterrence and combat capabilities.
According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, Xi, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the troops to resolutely fulfill the tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.
Further, he also emphasised the need to "adhere to political guidance, strengthen mission responsibility," and "promote high-quality development of the force construction," Chinese media outlet Cailianshe reported.
PLARF is responsible for China's strategic and tactical missile capabilities. The conventional arm of the PLARF is reportedly the largest ground-based missile force in the world.
"The PLARF plays a critical role in maintaining China’s national sovereignty and security. It comprises nuclear missile, conventional missile and support forces, and subordinate missile bases," according to Defense White Paper: 'China’s National Defense in the New Era'. According to the paper, the PLARF has been enhancing its capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack, "strengthening intermediate and long-range precision strike forces, and enhancing strategic counter-balance capability, so as to build a strong and modernized rocket force."
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The PLARF seemingly makes a major contribution to the “strategic balance” between Beijing and its chief strategic competitors.
A few days ago, PLARF was in the news when it conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test over the Pacific Ocean in four decades.