China’s Xi wants faster strengthening of military after diplomat’s US warning

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army and People’s Armed Police Force (Li Gang/Xinhua/AP)

China’s leader Xi Jinping has called for “more quickly elevating the armed forces to world-class standards”.

His comments in a speech come days after a top diplomat warned of the growing possibility of conflict with the US unless Washington alters course.