PR85001

BEIJING, Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Two serious disasters stroke China this year – the COVID-19 pandemic and

catastrophic floods along the Yangtze River in a scale unprecedented in over

two decades. The Chinese military troops have played significant roles in

disaster relief.

https://cdn5.prnasia.com/202008/CGTN/video.mp4

Officially known as the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the country's

military is deeply rooted in the people and has maintained close bonds with

them since its establishment 93 years ago.

"The PLA should always be part of the people, work for their interests, and

maintain close ties and share good and bad times with them," Chinese President

Xi Jinping said in a speech at a ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the

founding of the PLA

(https://news.cgtn.com/news/7a41444e77557a6333566d54/index.html )

on August 1, 2017.  

"The people's army goes wherever there are enemies, and wherever there is

danger," he stressed.

That is exactly what the military is doing this year - standing together with

civilians in the "people's wars" against COVID-19 and the flooding.

'Never retreat'

After the novel coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan, China's epicenter,

around 4,000 military medics were dispatched to three hospitals there. They

treated over 7,000 patients and saved numerous lives from January to April.

"We, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, swear that we will never retreat in

face of the epidemic and will safeguard peace and health of the people," said

Ma Ling, a military medic serving in an ICU at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan.

After completing their mission

(https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-04-16/Military-medics-supporting-Hubei-return-s

afely-PJScd2GXO8/index.html ), the military personnel were honored by Xi

(https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-04-17/Chinese-President-Xi-honors-military-pers

onnel-fighting-COVID-19-PLx2jlTRlu/index.html ), also general secretary of the

Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military

Commission. In an order of commendation, Xi said the epidemic was a "war and

test" to the army, and that the troops won the war with strong faith, high

scientific and research capacities and great sacrifice.

Safeguarding the people

In summer, thousands of PLA men embarked on a new mission

(https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-07-14/Soldiers-fight-floods-in-east-China-s-Jia

ngxi-Province-S7fyy0Zl0k/index.html) to combat another dangerous enemy – the

flooding in a number of provinces along the Yangtze River caused by almost

non-stop heavy rain. Water levels in the river and adjacent lakes have been

compared with the disastrous flooding in 1998.

President Xi urged the PLA and the People's Armed Police (PAP) Force

(https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-07-12/Xi-Jinping-calls-for-all-out-efforts-in-f

lood-control-S4moZNI1he/index.html ) to actively participate in rescue and relief efforts.

"We are the people's army and should fight on the frontline at this moment,"

said Xiao Shuai, a soldier of the PAP in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Zhang Hongbing, a local government official in the eastern province of Anhui,

hailed soldiers and officers fighting the flooding as a "real people's army."

"Once the troop arrives, the people feel safe and sound," Zhang said.

As China strives to build strong armed forces, Xi has called for a commitment

to the PLA's basic principle – "serving the people heart and soul."

The PLA must "go through thick and thin" with the people and always be a

military "trusted, supported and loved by the people," he said.

SOURCE  CGTN