Enduring mission of serving the people

As the People's Liberation Army marks its 99th anniversary on Aug 1, it remains true to the founding principle that has guided the military for nearly a century: serving the people and the nation. The PLA has made tremendous contributions to national liberation, world peace, national development and people's well-being.

Founded in 1927 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA is a military force deeply rooted in the people. This force valiantly resisted colonial rule and foreign aggression. During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), it utilized strategic depth and protracted war, relying on popular support to create extensive resistance bases behind enemy lines. In doing so, it shattered the myth of the Japanese Imperial Army's "invincibility" and thwarted Japan's attempts to establish colonial rule and incorporate China into its so-called "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere".

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the bond between the military and the people grew even stronger. While safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the PLA actively contributed to infrastructure development, economic growth, disaster relief and emergency response for the public's welfare.

A striking example came in 1954, when most PLA units in Xinjiang were reorganized into the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. They transformed the Tianshan Mountains, the Gobi and desert areas by building more than 100 farms and ranches, turning sand into fertile farmland and wasteland into homes.

Over the next seven decades, the Corps established a man-made oasis spanning more than 30,000 square kilometers, including around 1.55 million hectares of arable land, significantly boosting agriculture and improving the ecological environment in the region.

Similarly, the PLA's engineering units helped reshape China's infrastructural landscape. The railway corps constructed the Chengdu-Kunming Railway, which stretches 1,096 kilometers from the Sichuan Basin through the Hengduan Mountains to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. This region was once regarded as impenetrable for railway construction. The PLA's railway corps played a core role in the building of 991 bridges and 427 tunnels on the railway line and the completion of the Sichuan-Xizang Highway, establishing crucial transport arteries to support the modernization of the Southwest of the country.

The hydropower corps contributed to the construction of the Gezhouba Dam and other water conservancy and hydroelectric projects. Over the past 45 years, the Gezhouba Dam has generated over 680 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, saving more than 200 million metric tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 500 million tons. This has provided significant momentum for economic and social development, greatly benefiting the people.

The PLA has consistently led efforts during emergencies such as earthquake relief, flood control and snowstorm response to protect lives. During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province, 15 PLA Air Force paratroopers bravely executed a blind jump from an altitude of 5,000 meters into the epicenter, risking their lives to establish contact in the hardest-hit areas.

In the new era, the people's military has undergone a comprehensive transformation to enhance its effectiveness. Under a new framework, the Central Military Commission takes charge of the overall military administration while theater commands focus on combat and different military services develop their specialized capabilities. These reforms have laid the foundation for the high-quality development of the PLA.

Amid global turbulence and rising geopolitical challenges, the PLA continues to steadfastly protect national interests and people's well-being. In response to external disruptions in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, it conducts regular patrols, joint exercises, and drills. It firmly counters "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and China's maritime interests and rights.

The PLA has also contributed to world peace, helping safeguard a secure external environment for China's economic development and people's livelihood. By March this year, over 50,000 Chinese military personnel had participated in 26 United Nations missions across more than 20 countries and regions. The PLA Navy has deployed 48 escort task forces, comprising over 100 vessels, to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia. Additionally, the Chinese navy hospital ship has completed 11 "Mission Harmony" voyages, providing medical services to over 300,000 people in numerous countries.

The Chinese military has actively participated in international humanitarian missions, offering hope worldwide. It has conducted joint medical exercises with foreign counterparts, including "Peace Train" with Laos, "Peace Angel" with Cambodia, and "Peace Rescue" with Vietnam. In recent years, the military has participated in humanitarian relief efforts, such as combating the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and responding to disasters such as the typhoon in the Philippines, the water crisis in the Maldives, earthquakes in Nepal and Myanmar, the dam collapse in Laos, and the volcanic eruption in Tonga.

Under the leadership of the CPC, the PLA has consistently adhered to its founding mission and forged ahead. As it approaches its centenary in 2027, the PLA remains committed to a path of military development with Chinese characteristics, dedicated to safeguarding the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and ensuring the well-being and security of its people, while contributing to global peace and development.

Zhang Chi is a professor of national security at the National Defense University, the People's Liberation Army; and Ma Xiaochun is a lecturer at the same university.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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