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Sub-anchor: China's army builds infrastcture, protects people

CCTV.com

08-01-2016 12:26 BJT

Today is August 1st, and marks the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The PLA has become a powerful force since its founding, defending China and helping ensure peace and security around the world. For a closer look at the PLA's achievements over the years, we are joined in the studio by my colleague Zheng Yibing.

Q. Yibing, why is August 1st named Army Day? How has the People’s Liberation Army developed over the years?

China's Army Day marks the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army. The PLA was established on August 1st back in 1927 in Nanchang, eastern China's Jiangxi Province. The anniversary is a reminder of the contributions that the PLA has made -- defending China from Japanese fascist aggression, and liberating the Chinese nation. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, PLA soldiers used outdated arms and equipment. To better serve the nation, the PLA implemented a comprehensive modernization reform. The PLA gradually developed a full range of specialized divisions. They use indigenous technologies and advanced weapon systems to outfit their troops for round-the-clock combat. China's land border is more than 22,000 kilometers long, and its coastline is over 18,000 kilometers long. China's latest white paper on military strategy underscores the PLA's core principles of "defense, self-defense and post-emptive strikes." To achieve its goals, the PLA has cut the size of its armed forces from 4 million to 2 million.China's Central Military Commission administers the PLA's operations. The army's five theater commands focus on combat preparedness. While 15 other armed services pursue development.

Q2. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China's army has taken on a range of responsibilities -- from defending China's lands and waters, to helping build national infrastructure, to safeguarding people’s lives and property. What are some of the PLA's greatest peacetime achievements?

The PLA has been supporting national and local infrastructure projects. The PLA also works with civilians to implement scientific, technological, educational, cultural and health initiatives. Chinese armed forces lead rescue operations when disasters -- like floods, tornadoes, droughts and earthquakes -- strike. China's armed forces have nine state-level professional rescue divisions, with 50,000 members. And a number of provincial emergency-rescue units, with 45,000 members. These rescue teams work together to help Chinese citizens during disasters -- like we saw in 2008, after the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan in Sichuan Province. And we are seeing today, as extreme weather sweeps through cities across China. Our reporter Guan Yan just visited the border city of Dandong to find out how the PLA safeguards China's borders and fights floods.

China's border security forces guard the country's land and sea frontiers, as well as its ports and airports. For this year's anniversary of the foundation of the People's Liberation Army, our reporter GUAN YANG went to Dandong, a city on the border of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to find out more about the soldiers' daily routine there.

The Yalu River, together with Tumen River, and a small portion of Changbai Mountain help to divide China and the DPRK. With a length of over 1,400 kilometers, the border patrols are constantly engaged.

The Border Patrol's duties along the Yalu River consist largely of stopping smuggling and illegal immigration and strengthening border security. And if I tell you the bridge over there handles a considerable amount of the trade volume between China and the DPRK, you get the idea of the level of responsibilities the frontier soldiers on the bridge have.

Since the majority of trade between the two countries are transited over the Sino-DPRK friendly bridge in Dandong -- a city destined by geography to be the major connecting point -- the frontier soldiers do more than just stand guard.

"It's been two years since I signed up for the border security force, other than guarding the bridge, I've gained a lot of experience and knowledge of border patrol. That's why I want to apply for the military academy and come back here as a qualified military officer,"
Cheng Jiulin, frontier soldier with Dandong's Frontier Inspection Station, said.

Apart from patrols and surveillance, the frontier soldiers here are also required to safeguard events like exhibitions and could be deployed for flood relief missions. Their schedules are always tight.

"It's the flood season and time is very precious. We have to ensure both border securities and flood relief. You can see the soldiers are trying to get the most out of their military exercises to improve their physical fitness levels," Cheng Jiulin, frontier soldier with Dandong's Frontier Inspection Station, said.

"We are a little different to other frontier inspection stations, because the Yalu River is also a popular tourist destination. The frontier soldiers must display professionalism in every aspect," Miao Yuwen, military instructor with Dandong's Frontier Inspection Station, said.

From the prevention of, and crack-down on, illegal and criminal acts in border areas to disaster relief, the frontier soldiers of Dandong play an indispensable role in building prosperities in the peaceful time.

As China grows stronger, China's armed forces are cooperating more with their foreign counterparts, and becoming more involved in UN peacekeeping missions. How has China's military contributed to global peace and security?

China’s UN peacekeeping missions can be traced back to the year 1990. Over 31,000 Chinese officers and soldiers have participated in 24 UN peacekeeping missions. With their help, over 160,000 patients have been treated, and over 9,400 unexploded explosives have been defused. Chinese armed forces have built and repaired over 13,000 kilometers of road, and transported 1.2 million tons of materials. 13 Chinese soldiers have sacrificed their lives fighting for peace and security around the globe. Currently there are 2,496 Chinese personnel in nine UN task areas. Chinese peacekeepers make up the highest number among the UN Security Council permanent members. It paid 844 million US dollars this year for UN peacekeeping missions - the second highest of all UN members. The Defense Ministry has said it will continue to contribute.

China's military has played an active role in international disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts. Chinese armed forced have assisted in the search for Malaysian Air's missing flight MH370, and helped evacuate people from Yemen during a security crisis. Since 2008, China's naval fleet has successfully escorted over 6,100 vessels through the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's pirate infested coast.

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