Today is China's Army Day, marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. The just-concluded PLA Air Force open-day in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, showcased some of the country's most advanced aircraft. Zhao Yunfei reports.
The H-6K bomber is a self-developed aircraft by China. Its development stems from several modifications that can be traced back to the former Soviet Union's Tu-16. Senior Colonel Wei Xiaogang says he has undergone rigorous training to fly the jet.
WEI XIAOGANG, H-6K Pilot "If you want to be faster and master more skills, you have to use your spare time and exert more effort than others. Our aircraft improves with each generation. Although this H-6K may look similar to the H-6, it has undergone significant changes."
Wei is not just a pilot, however. He also serves as a flight instructor. He has been coaching multiple generations of aviators.
WEI XIAOGANG, H-6K Pilot "Comparing to the students from 20 years ago, the current students have a higher level of education, broader horizons, more active thinking, and better learning ability. However, their personalities are more prominent. Our job is to use different methods according to their different personalities to help them grow and learn combat skills as soon as possible."
Aside from the H-6K, the aircraft demonstrated at the open-day event showcase the PLA Air Force's 70-year history of improvements, transitioning from importing equipment to innovation.
ZHANG XUEFENG, Military Expert "The PLA Air Force is strategically open-minded, and our activities show that we are becoming more and more confident. In fact, the PLA Air Force has always presented itself in various forms."
ZHAO YUNFEI, Changchun, Jilin Province "The open day is just one of many opportunities to showcase the PLA's disciplined troops, advanced equipment, and its capability to meet the strategic requirements of military modernization."
General Secretary Xi Jinping calls for the high-quality development of the armed forces. General Secretary Xi has demanded efforts in building a modern governance system for the armed forces to provide a strong guarantee for achieving the goals of the PLA centenary.
TAN KEFEI, Spokesperson, China's Ministry of National Defense "The heroic People's Army has always resolutely obeyed the Party's command, forged elite troops, and made immortal contributions to national independence, people's liberation, and national prosperity."
With 96 years of endeavor, the PLA has become a staunch force for safeguarding national sovereignty and security, and maintaining world peace and stability. Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, Changchun, Jilin Province.