Thousands take part in parade of China’s modern military might
Print Edition
DOZENS of soldiers storm out of 18 helicopters landing on a sandy patch in the heart of the vast Inner Mongolian prairie.
They join thousands of other camouflaged soldiers in a massive military parade as tanks and missile launchers rumble past. Fighter jets streak across the clear blue sky, shooting flares.
President Xi Jinping was reviewing the armed forces yesterday as part of commemorations to mark tomorrow’s 90th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army.
More than 12,000 service personnel from the army, navy, air force, armed police as well as the newly formed rocket force and strategic support troops, took part in the parade at the Zhurihe military training base.
Observers said the parade had more of a combat feel as soldiers appeared as if they were gripped by the heat of battle.
“Here, the soldiers have the stares that kill,” said Wang Ruicheng, deputy head of the general office of the parade headquarters.
The commemoration began with a flag-raising ceremony, and Xi was greeted by Han Weiguo, commander-in-chief of the parade and commander of the Central Theater Command.
“Comrade chairman, the troops are ready. Please review,” Han said. “Proceed!” Xi replied.
Camouflage-clad Xi mounted an open-top jeep to drive along the airstrip. “Salute to you, comrades,” Xi called out.
“Hail to you, chairman,” soldiers replied.
Xi alternated the greeting with “Comrades, thanks for your hard work,” to which soldiers replied “Serve the people.”
“Follow the Party. Fight to win. Forge exemplary conduct,” servicemen and women shouted in unison.
Forty-one attack helicopters flew in formations spelling Chinese characters ba yi — or August 1 — and the number 90.
The parade did not feature goose-stepping in a march-past. Instead, the officers and soldiers rode in military vehicles that rumbled past the rostrum.
The gleaming armament showed how far the PLA has come since it was a small force with poor weaponry at the Nanchang Uprising in 1927.
Today, the PLA commands about 2 million service personnel, one of the world’s largest military forces.
Cutting-edge weapons like J-20 stealth aircraft, 8x8 all-terrain vehicles, radar-and-communication jamming drones and solid-fuel intercontinental missiles were among about 600 pieces of military hardware on show.
About half had never been paraded. New faces included female marines and an electronic warfare force under the new strategic support force.
The parade at Zhurihe captured the essence of fundamental changes in China’s armed forces with sweeping reforms in recent years.
In just two years, the top bureaucracy was streamlined, military services balanced, the joint command system reshaped, equipment upgraded and border patrols increased.
Meanwhile, China’s second aircraft carrier was launched; more warships were commissioned; and new fighter jets, drones and missiles unveiled.
“The size of the ground force has been greatly reduced to account for less than half of the armed forces,” said General Li Zuocheng, commander of the PLA Army. “The army is getting fit as it turns modern and strong.”
The Zhurihe base has also felt the pulse of Xi’s reform as the largest military training ground in Asia got busy. The country’s first professional opposing forces brigade was created there.
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