China displays military might with massive parade
Posted: Thursday, October 01, 2009 10:29 AM
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Beijing, China
By NBC News' Ed Flanagan
BEIJING – A veil of secrecy and intense – some would say comically extreme – protective measures defined the lead-up to today's 60th anniversary celebrations in China.
The massive military parade on Thursday was the manifestation of months of highly choreographed, tightly managed planning – the calling card of mass events in modern China.
For the 12 million inhabitants of the capital, the massive security and traffic restrictions caused widespread inconveniences. But many brushed off the temporary annoyances.
"We should accept temporary difficulties," said Cao Jian, a Chinese cook whose restaurant had to shut down temporarily due to the celebrations. "When we see this rare display of modern weapons, we Chinese feel a sense of security, a sense of pride," he added.
The centerpiece of the parade was a display of China's military arsenal, although it seemed almost absurd that such a heavy police presence was required to guard the new, highly advanced war-fighting might of China's armed forces.
However, many military observers who were leaning in a little closer to their TVs in expectation of seeing as many as 52 new Chinese weapons systems were disappointed to find none of the new arsenal on display.
Yet, from the media position in front of the Forbidden City, the procession of modern weaponry achieved its intended effect. Throughout the day there were subdued awes and nods of respect from the assembled media and distinguished guests as we witnessed a mass display, which could only be described as awe-inspiring.
The roar of massive diesel engines from scores of brand new tanks, missile batteries and amphibious fighting vehicles provided a unique accompaniment to the soundtrack of the day, a selection of martial and nationalist musical scores that blasted throughout Tiananmen Square and the areas around it.
Equally impressive was the cadence of thousands of boots marching in step as perfectly dressed ranks of soldiers from every military branch goose-stepped past dignitaries and then cheered in perfect unison, "HELLO SENIOR LEADER!" to President Hu Jintao and later, "SERVE THE PEOPLE!" in response to Hu’s salutations.
Meantime, an armada of more than 150 helo and fixed-wing aircraft soared overhead. The first wave of fighter jets trailing colored streaks of smoke through the city were met with wild applause and cheers from the distinguished guests near us.
And the hundreds of schoolchildren sitting across from us in Tiananmen Square nearly lost their perfect discipline as they broke into cheers as well. (Not leaving any detail to chance, the schoolchildren’s colorful headdresses, from above, spelt out, "Guo Qing" or national holiday.)
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What followed the military portion of the parade was a whirl of floats that celebrated not only China’s 23 provinces (yes, a float was dedicated to Taiwan), but a bevy of Chinese industrial and cultural interests that ranged from the Olympics to celebrating the train, airplane and port operators of China.
Around each float was a veritable army of enthusiastic university students, many of whom had essentially sacrificed their summer vacations and parts of this school semester to prepare for the parade.
No detail was left out in the effort to stir up nationalist pride, a major goal of the grand exercise. Just days earlier, China Mobile, the largest cell phone service provider in China, changed the ring-back tones of many of their customers to patriotic songs, without notifying anyone. (A ring-back tone is what a caller hears when they dial a number before the call is answered. The usual noise is a repetitive ring).
Just like the Olympics last year, weather conditions were again a cause of concern for organizers, especially since recent days have been alternately hazy and foggy, jeopardizing the scheduled flybys that Beijingers have already been dazzled by over the past few weeks.
In order to beat the precise 36 percent chance of low clouds and less than 20 percent chance of rainfall – odds announced by Xinhua News Agency earlier this week – an Air Force task force consisting of 18 transport planes was formed to "seed" the dense clouds that covered the capital Wednesday with rain inducing silver iodide and dry ice. And down on the streets of the capital, an additional 260 soldiers in 48 fog-clearing vehicles were blowing the remnants of the man-made storm from the city.
The resulting miracle, clear sunny skies Thursday morning, was perhaps the greatest celebration of founding father, Mao Zedong, who once famously proclaimed "Man must conquer nature!"
Today, China most certainly lived up to Mao’s bold words.
While soldiers took to the air to clear the Beijing skyline, over the past few weeks thousands of police were mobilized and deployed on the ground along Chang’an Avenue – the central Beijing road artery through which the parade marched – to protect the city from potential terrorist threats and embarrassing acts of protest.
On a day where 10,000 police officers and a reported 800,000 "volunteers" were also present to provide security, no incidents were reported.
Related links:
China's 60th anniversary stirs pride, unease
Newsweek: China's 60th anniversary party isn't to impress us
Newsweek: The competition within China's single party
NBC archival video: A look at China's cultural revolution
