Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has called for troops to be ready for combat and for improvements to equipment and logistical preparation.
Fan made the remarks, which were carried in a statement released on Tuesday, in an recent inspection tour of the Southern Theater Command.
Officers and soldiers need to be aware of current threats to China's sovereignty, security and interests, he said, urging the military to research combat methods and strategies pertinent to different situations and foster special forces reserved for key missions and scenarios.
"Air and sea patrols should be tightly organized to handle all kinds of emergencies and safeguard air and sea security in border areas," Fan said.
He also called for strengthened leadership to root out corruption.
