Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on Saturday about “leveraging the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military and called for concerted efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner,” China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
“Xi called for systematically training personnel for joint operations, new types of combat forces, high-level sci-tech innovation, and high-level strategic management,” it added. The statements came in the context of China also holding “the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, [which] held its second plenary meeting on Monday,” Xinhua noted.
Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) noted that “Beijing’s defense minister called for shaping a stable environment for China to serve its broader political and diplomatic agenda, conveying the government’s strategic caution amid global uncertainties.”
China is well aware of the war in Iran, but its major media is choosing to focus on issues closer to home for now. Reports discuss how Hong Kong insurers are gaining an edge over London in war-risk insurance amid the war. This is important for shipping.
Other articles note that China is shielded, for now, from the energy crisis that the war in Iran could unleash. Amid emerging drone threats, the SCMP asks, “How cheaply can China fend off a drone swarm with its latest microwave weapon?” This clearly hints at lessons from the current conflict. Meanwhile, Xinhua is focused on China’s military power.
The Iran war, and a clear connection to China
In the wake of the war with Iran, some commentators see a clear connection to China. Zineb Riboua writes at The Free Press “The Iran strike is all about China.” Time magazine says, “The Iran war has distracted and depleted the US military. But it may also have saved Taiwan,” while the BBC argues that “The Iran war is unsettling China and its ambitions.”
China is thinking ahead about a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi and is concerned about the “flames of war” spreading, CNN notes. The country has opposed the war, and its Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, says that it should never have happened. As China watches how the war with Iran could shape the new world order, it continues to invest heavily in defense systems and technology.
Xinhua notes that in 2025, Xi visited the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, an AI incubation hub that is home to over 100 start-ups.
“At the center, he was presented with a range of AI-driven equipment and systems – robots autonomously gathering experimental data that facilitates drug development, mechanical arms mastering complex tasks for smarter production lines, and AI-powered sorters that can identify waste precisely.
This vibrant cluster of innovation is a microcosm of China’s broader AI push, where cutting-edge technologies are moving rapidly from labs to real-world scenarios.”
Another report at Xinhua notes that “over the next five years, China has pledged to pour more money into original innovation, preparing to raise the share of basic research funding in total R&D spending significantly, and mapping out a new batch of mega-science facilities. Last year, its basic research investment came in at a record-high 7.08% of total R&D expenditure.”
China is also plowing investment into the military. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force, spoke at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress.
“On the priorities for the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, Zhang said the military will strengthen political guidance to deepen political rectification, increase the supply of advanced combat capabilities, enhance military governance with an emphasis on improving the institutions and mechanisms for leading and managing the people’s armed forces, and strengthen the development of integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities,” Xinhua noted.
“The figure earmarked for national defense in the 2026 national general public budget is expected to rise by 6.9% from the previous year’s actual spending. Of the figure, central government expenditures on national defense are expected to increase by 7%.”
This should raise eyebrows in the West. While the US and other countries are focused on Iran or the Ukraine war, China continues to move forward. It is not embroiled in a long, complex war or seeing its munitions being cannibalized on a foreign battlefield. It is at peace and is growing stronger.