The Chinese military, including its J-20 stealth fighter jets, will enhance combat alert duties during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, a regular but important arrangement that will fend off any potential foreign provocations, experts said on Monday.
During the Spring Festival holidays, the broad masses of Chinese troops will hold fast to their positions, enhance combat readiness duties, maintain a high state of alertness to prepare for combat, safeguard national security and social stability, and make sure the Chinese people can have a joyful, peaceful, and safe Spring Festival, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.
Ma Xiong, a J-20 fighter jet pilot at an air group attached to a brigade affiliated with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, said in the CCTV report that the air group will not rest in its duty to safeguard air defense security, closely monitor the aerial situation, maintain a combat alertness status according to regulations, and spend the Spring Festival holidays combat ready.
“[We will] make sure that we can sortie immediately if any emergency arises, and deal with it effectively,” Ma said.
Armored vehicle units of the PLA Army deployed in snow-covered plateau regions, warship units of the PLA Navy sailing at sea, and People’s Armed Police Force units will also boost combat readiness during the holidays, the CCTV report showed.
2024’s Spring Festival national holidays , or the Chinese Lunar New Year, will be celebrated from February 10 to February 17.
As part of the routine arrangement, the Chinese military regularly increases combat alertness during national holidays, a Chinese military expert who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.
Even during peacetime, foreign military forces often increase the intensity of close-in reconnaissance operations or provocative activities on China around the holidays, the expert noted, stressing the importance of not letting the national guard down at any time.
Announcing the increased alertness status and the availability of combat equipment such as the J-20 fighter jet will not only allow the Chinese people to rest assured, but also send clear warnings to forces that harbor malicious thoughts, the expert said.
