China's PLA kicks it old school

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, October 1, 2009 - 6:59 PM Share

My CNAS colleague Abe Denmark, who is scary smart on Chinese security matters, offers this commentary on the recent round of Chinese military parades, as seen here:

Very old-fashioned stuff. Fun things to look for:
Happy ethnic minorities in traditional garb.
Female soldiers, carrying submachine guns, clad in red miniskirts and white jackboots.
Goose-stepping -- always popular.
Mass choreographed dancing and sign-holding. Kim Jong-Il is very jealous.
Tanks rolling through Tiananmen Square. 'nuff said.
President Hu Jintao riding very stiffly in a motorcade to inspect the troops. Per tradition, he says "Greetings, comrades!" The soldier's traditional reply: "Serve the people!"
Awesome blue-tinted naval camouflage on the anti-ship cruise missile launchers, and the sailors' uniforms. Radar and infra-red be damned!

STR/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:CHINA, MILITARY

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ZJIN

7:16 PM ET

October 1, 2009

For someone who is "scary

For someone who is "scary smart on Chinese security matters", he should not make mistake on Chinese military tradition: Per tradition, Hu says "Greetings, comrades!" The soldier reply "Greetings, commander"

Then Hu says "Comrades, you’ve worked so hard!" The soldier's traditional reply: "Serve the people!"