China's grand military parade showcases confidence, transparency, stokes patriotism
By Yang Sheng and Cao Siqi source: Global Times
Massive National Day event sparks patriotism across the country
China reveals its most advanced nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-41, at the National Day parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019. Photo: Fan Lingzhi/GT A grand military parade and a mass pageantry marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) were held in Beijing on Tuesday that featured the country's most sophisticated weaponry and spectacular performances, while patriotism and pride swelled among Chinese as they celebrated the country's seven decades of achievement under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech before the military parade on the Tiananmen rostrum.
China's yesterday had been inscribed in human history while China's today is being created in the hands of hundreds of millions of Chinese people, Xi said, adding that "China will surely have an even brighter future."
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force should always preserve their nature, purpose and character as the forces of the people, resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and firmly uphold world peace, Xi noted.
Advanced military weapons from the PLA made their public debut. The scale of the parade was greater than those commemorating the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the PRC founding, including the V-Day military parade in 2015.
Photo: Zhang HaichaoConfidence and transparency
Chinese military experts also noted that the array of advanced weaponry sent a message to hostile foreign forces that China has the ability and confidence to respond to any kind of threat, blackmail or provocation.
According to a white paper titled "China's National Defense in the New Era" released in July, the fundamental goal of China's national defense in the new era is resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and is defensive in nature.
Chinese military experts said this showed a comprehensive development of Chinese military and those forces who intended to challenge China should be aware that China is capable of defeating any enemy when its core interests are threatened.
For enemies like secessionists who intend to separate Taiwan from China, conventional weapons displayed during the parade are totally enough when our country is left with no choice, he said.
A GJ-11 stealth attack drone makes its parade debut during the National Day parade held in Beijing on October 1, 2019. Photo: Fan Lingzhi/GT
'First time' For the first time, the Chinese UN Peacekeeping Force, the PLA Civilian Personnel, PLA military scientists, students of military academies and senior commanders formed square teams at the parade.
The senior commander team included 352 members from 24 units of the army, ranging in age from 24 to 59. It also included generals, colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors and captains from the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Rocket Force and armed police forces.
PLA Air Force Commander Ding Laihang flew a KJ-2000 early warning aircraft over the parade. Although the 2009 National Day parade and 2015 V-day military parade featured senior Air Force officers flying planes, this was the first time an Air Force commander flew by himself during a parade.
The military parade followed by a mass pageantry greatly stimulated Chinese people's sense of patriotism. "Excitement, astonishment and wishes" are the three key words seen flooding Chinese social media platforms.
A large number of attendees waved the national flag and sang to wish the country a happy birthday. Many attendees told the Global Times that such a close contact with the country's most advanced weapons and equipment made them feel the development and strength of the motherland, which gave them confidence in the country and their own future.
Another volunteer said even though she started working at 3 am on Tuesday, she felt fulfilled.
Before the parade, two command cars accompanying the president's car when reviewing military troops with license plate numbers "1949" and "2019."
International perspective Hujjatullah Zia, a journalist from Afghanistan, watched the military parade and mass pageantry on Tuesday.
He slammed some Western media reports that China wanted to flex its muscles with a military parade.
Zia believed the parade conveys a national and international message: "First, Chinese leaders assured their citizens of security by improving the country's military strength in the last seven decades. Second, Chinese military development suggests its strength in regional and global peacekeeping," he said.
For Assadi, the parade "is really a proud moment not only for Chinese but also for the international community."
Assadi said he liked the culture-related performances and presentations which showed that the various ethnic minority groups in China are enjoying their lives, and have their basic rights fulfilled by their motherland.
Fu Guohao, Liu Xuanzun, Guo Yuandan, Leng Shumei and Xie Wenting also contributed to this story