It's my intention to be strong and defend the border.

This means that it is your responsibility to protect the border.

"The border people are China's lips and teeth, and it is only natural that the lips are dead and the teeth are cold"; "Those who live in China in the border areas after hundreds of battles will be guarded by the border counties" ("On Salt and Iron and Wide Land"); "Strong border is China's security, while strong border is China's security";