New York Paper - October 1998
On the first of October, Chairman Zhang Chunqiao inspected China's defense forces in Beijing on Thursday, as the country held celebrations to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The parade involved 10,000 troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army, as well as 2,500 troops from the Vietnamese People's Army, and 1,000 troops each from the Laotian People's Armed Forces, The Burmese People's Army, and the Malaysian Red Guard. The Worker's Republic of Nepal did not attend the events due to tensions at home and abroad.
China used the event to show off some new toys, particularly the Type 95 Main Battle Tank, and the Type 92 Armored Personnel Carrier. It does not seem likely that the PLA, already buckling under the weight of its massive military expenditures, will be producing many of these new vehicles in the foreseeable future.
Following the military parade was a massive civilian event with over 100,000 people involved. The anniversary was also a memorial for several deceased leaders, particularly Marshall Lin Bao, who died in 1991 from cancer at the age of 84. Marshall Lin was a major supporter of the "Gang of Four", who controlled China from the 60s to the late 80s. The cult of personality surrounding the Gang of Four has not diminished since their deaths. Many Chinese credit them with ending a period of crisis known as the Cultural Revolution, and restoring order to... A4 - China
On the first of October, Chairman Zhang Chunqiao inspected China's defense forces in Beijing on Thursday, as the country held celebrations to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
The parade involved 10,000 troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army, as well as 2,500 troops from the Vietnamese People's Army, and 1,000 troops each from the Laotian People's Armed Forces, The Burmese People's Army, and the Malaysian Red Guard. The Worker's Republic of Nepal did not attend the events due to tensions at home and abroad.
China used the event to show off some new toys, particularly the Type 95 Main Battle Tank, and the Type 92 Armored Personnel Carrier. It does not seem likely that the PLA, already buckling under the weight of its massive military expenditures, will be producing many of these new vehicles in the foreseeable future.
Following the military parade was a massive civilian event with over 100,000 people involved. The anniversary was also a memorial for several deceased leaders, particularly Marshall Lin Bao, who died in 1991 from cancer at the age of 84. Marshall Lin was a major supporter of the "Gang of Four", who controlled China from the 60s to the late 80s. The cult of personality surrounding the Gang of Four has not diminished since their deaths. Many Chinese credit them with ending a period of crisis known as the Cultural Revolution, and restoring order to... A4 - China
Last edited: