Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

China’s PLA kicks it old school

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 — ...

580118_091001_ricks1ab2.jpg
580118_091001_ricks1ab2.jpg

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

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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