Aug 1, 11:30 AM

China Showcases Military Strength as PLA Marks 98th Anniversary

China marked the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army on 1 August with large-scale public commemorations in Beijing and other locations. Tens of thousands of people gathered before dawn at Tian’anmen Square for the daily flag-raising ceremony, standing to attention as the national anthem played. Visitors also packed the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution in the capital, photographing historic equipment and new displays that highlight the PLA’s expansion into modern domains such as space and cyber-warfare. State media coverage stressed President Xi Jinping’s call for turning the armed forces into a “world-class” military under the Communist Party’s command. Outside China, Pakistan’s military public-relations arm, ISPR, said personnel at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi observed the anniversary, underscoring long-standing defence ties between the two countries.