China's first domestically-produced aircraft carrier launching into water; a formation of bombers patrolling the South China Sea; and a host of nuclear-capable rockets mounted on mobile launch vehicles.
China's Defense Ministry launched a new video Sunday in a bid to showcase the country's rising military capabilities two weeks ahead of the 90th birthday of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The video, named "PLA Today," is China's latest bid to show the world how far its military capacity has increased since its inception nine decades ago, and also how far it would go to preserve the country's hard-won peace and order.
The 16-minute English-language video, with Chinese subtitles, displayed a host of unmanned "smart" military vehicles, reconnaissance robots and drones, followed by footage of live-fire drills in the South China Sea and the East China Sea in July last year.
"If war is declared, we are ready," one line read.
The video also sought to reaffirm the PLA's commitment to "safeguarding world peace and regional security," by highlighting its efforts in conducting UN peacekeeping tasks and escort missions around the Gulf of Aden, with footage of crew members from foreign ships saying "Thank you China" after being rescued by Chinese forces.
"Peace is a core value of the Chinese civilization," the video said, "China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature."
The video has aroused patriotism online.
"I hope to become a member of the PLA," a user named Xinxiangyuanfang commented on thepaper.cn.
"Go Chinese soldiers!" another commenter said on weibo.com.
This is not the first time that the PLA has produced short videos to promote itself both at home and abroad.
Last year, the military released an action-packed video with rap music to attract young Chinese recruits.
