Military parade to showcase nation's capabilities and confidence

The military parade on the nation's 70th birthday on Oct 1 will showcase the latest achievements from the modernization of the People's Liberation Army, as well as its stanch confidence in becoming a world-class military force, Major General Cai Zhijun, deputy director of the Leading Group Office of Military Parade, said on Tuesday.

Cai said the parade in Beijing will demonstrate the PLA's determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as to maintain world peace and regional stability.

"It will motivate and encourage all Party members, all military personnel, and people across all ethnic groups to work tirelessly in realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation," he said.

The military parade passing through Tian'anmen Square will be divided into four major categories: aerial flag bearing units, infantry formations, military hardware and aircraft. The parade will last around 80 minutes.

The showcase will include about 15,000 military personnel, 160 aircraft, 580 pieces of military hardware and 59 formations, making it the biggest military parade in recent history, Cai said.

For the 15 infantry battalions, troops will march in square formations representing various branches of the military, including researchers, female soldiers, military reserves, militia members and peacekeeping forces. The female battalion will be led by two female generals for the first time in history.

The 32 military equipment groups will showcase such hardware as ground and maritime combat weapons, as well as air defense and anti-missile, information and unmanned warfare, logistics and strategic equipment.

The 12 aircraft groups will feature flyovers from early warning and control planes, bombers, carrier-born fighter jets, multirole fighter jets and helicopters.

Cai, when asked how the parade reflects the PLA's joint combat capability, said improving such ability has been the focus of China's military reform, and the organizational and logistical efforts required to carry out a parade of this caliber is a manifestation of the PLA's joint combat prowess.

Because most marching formations will be led by two generals, the parade will feature the biggest number of high-ranking commanders in history, Cai said.

The military hardware and aircraft will be divided into battle modules based on their roles and application in joint combat scenarios.

"We can safely say that we have to uphold the principle of joint combat capability in every aspect of the parade," Cai said.

Major General Tan Min, the deputy chief of staff of the PLA Central Theater Command, said the weapons that will be featured in the parade are domestically made and in service, and represent the innovation capability of Chinese defense research.

The weapons are also highly modern, with greater precision, adaptability and overall combat effectiveness, he added.

Regarding the marching battalions, Tan said male troops range in height from 1.75 to 1.85 meters, and female troops 1.63 to 1.75 meters.

Troops will range in age from 20s to 60s. "Letting several generations of troops march in the same parade can vividly showcase the honorable heritage of the PLA, and reflect the joint aspiration of building a strong nation and strong military by all military personnel."

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said a total of 188 military attaches from 97 countries have been invited to the military parade. No foreign troops will join the parade.