Going through a ring of fire, throwing oneself into the snow… Super spartan! Why do college students still love the Chinese People’s Liberation Army?
While relations between China and Taiwan have been strained, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been attracting a flood of volunteers. ...... Diving into the snow and through rings of fire...these are just a few examples. Despite the analog training required, volunteers are pouring in.
China is stepping up its military activities.
On January 29, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that multiple warships are constantly deployed in the waters near Taiwan, and on January 30, the U.S. Space Command warned that China is increasingly monitoring its activities by satellite. ……
The trigger for the increased military activity may have been the January 13 election of pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-tok as Taiwan’s president. With the tension in Sino-Taiwanese relations, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is trying to grasp the actions of ‘hostile countries’ by making full use of advanced digital technology.
On the other hand, the training of soldiers is ultra-analog. Please take a look at the photos published by the People’s Liberation Army. Soldiers, who still look like boys, are screaming about something as they walk through a blazing ring of fire, and men with naked upper bodies are throwing themselves into the snow despite the bitterly cold temperature of minus 28°C (-22°F). In addition, during the enlistment examinations, the men undergo medical examinations in the nude and are even sprayed with water while lifting heavy weights. Chinese journalist Zhou Laiyu said, “The first president of the country, Mao Zawa, was a great leader.
Mao Zedong, the first president of China, had this to say about war: “The important thing to win a war is not weapons. Mao Zedong, the first president of China, said about war, “To win a war, it is not weapons that are important, but people. He probably meant that we need to train soldiers’ mental strength to overcome tough battles, rather than relying on weapons. Today, there is a growing emphasis on technology, but Mao’s philosophy has been passed down to us.
The People’s Liberation Army appears to be a super spartan organization. Despite this, the military is said to be inundated with applicants and to be the object of admiration for young people.
Even the elite who graduated from top universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University are applying to join the military. Behind this is the fact that the economy is in recession and it is difficult to find a job even after graduating from university. In some cases, salaries in the People’s Liberation Army are nearly twice as high as those in the private sector,” he said. By publicizing their spartan training, they can show that they are ready for war,” said Zhou.
The latest technology is used to exert pressure on hostile countries, while hard training scenes are used domestically to keep the domestic population on their toes. Behind this is the cunning of the authorities.
From the February 23, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Reuters/Afro AP/Afro
