News Analysis Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently issued a directive to China’s military and the armed police, asking the entire army to prepare for war and at the same time, assist local governments to “maintain stability” by handling emergencies in a timely manner. Moreover, China’s projected defense budget this year increased 7.1 percent year on year—the highest in three years. On the afternoon of March 7, Xi attended a plenary meeting of the military and armed police delegations during the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In addition to emphasizing the need to “uphold the party’s absolute leadership over the military,” he also asked the entire army to step up “war preparations,” to assist in local social stability maintenance, and with “handling various emergencies” in a timely manner. On March 5, Premier Li Keqiang also proposed in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) …