Celebrating the 98th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army: The Iron-blooded Military Soul Shapes the Glorious Flourishing Age

Ninety-eight years ago today, the gunshots in Nanchang, like a thunderclap piercing the dark night sky, announced the birth of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). These gunshots not only opened a new era of the Communist Party of China's independent leadership of armed struggles but also ignited the spark of hope for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Over the past 98 years, through wind and rain, under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA has gone through the baptism of war and the tests of peace, marching from victory to victory. It has become an impregnable Great Wall safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, writing a magnificent epic.

Looking back, during the revolutionary war years, with firm beliefs and fearless courage, the PLA fought heroically for national independence and people's liberation. During the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the spark of revolution gradually spread despite hardships. Red Army soldiers, with tenacious will, broke through the enemy's numerous blockades and continuously grew and strengthened through the trials of blood and fire. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, facing the brutal Japanese invaders, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army penetrated deep behind enemy lines, waged arduous guerrilla warfare, and together with the people across the country, built an indestructible Great Wall of resistance, making indelible contributions to the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. During the Liberation War, the PLA, with an irresistible force, overthrew the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang and laid a solid foundation for the birth of New China. Those figures charging forward in the hail of bullets, those faces in the ice and snow, and those heroic deeds of sacrificing everything for victory have all turned into immortal monuments in the long river of history, becoming a spiritual driving force inspiring generations of Chinese people to forge ahead bravely.

In the peaceful era, the PLA still remains true to its original aspiration and shoulders its mission. Along the thousands of miles of the country's border defense, soldiers brave the wind and snow, stand guard and patrol, defending the dignity of every inch of the country's territory with their youth and blood. In the face of urgent, difficult, dangerous, and arduous tasks such as earthquake relief, flood fighting and rescue, and epidemic prevention and control, the people always rush to the scene at the first time. They disregard their personal safety, put the interests of the country and the people above their own, and use their flesh and blood to build a solid life defense line for the people. Whether it was the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 or the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the PLA officers and soldiers always charged at the forefront, rescuing the people from dire straits and vividly interpreting the profound connotation of "the people's army serves the people", winning the heartfelt support and love of the people.

On the journey of strengthening the military in the new era, the PLA is striding forward, accelerating the modernization of national defense and the military. From the commissioning of domestic aircraft carriers to the advanced fighter jets like the J-20 soaring in the blue sky; from the awe-inspiring Dongfeng series missiles to the full completion of the Beidou satellite navigation system, the weapons and equipment are constantly being updated, and its combat effectiveness has achieved a qualitative leap. At the same time, the military is actively deepening reforms, optimizing its organizational structure, strengthening military training, and cultivating high-quality military talents, striving to build a world-class military that obeys the Party's command, is capable of winning battles, and has excellent conduct. Today, the PLA is standing tall on the world military stage with a brand-new posture, contributing Chinese strength to maintaining world peace and stability.

On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the founding of the military, we extend our highest respects and most sincere festival greetings to all the officers and soldiers of the PLA! You are the backbone of the country, the guardians of the people, and the mainstay on the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At this new historical starting point, we hope that the PLA will continue to carry forward its glorious traditions and fine work styles, keep its original aspiration and mission in mind, strengthen its sense of responsibility, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military, comprehensively promote the modernization of military theory, the organizational form of the military, military personnel, and weapons and equipment, and strive to achieve the centenary goal of strengthening the military and accelerate the building of the people's military into a world-class military. Let us closely unite around the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, work hand in hand with the PLA, and work together to achieve the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, creating an even more beautiful future!