More than 50 generals of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) made a rare appearance on Thursday leading troop and air formations in the military parade at Tiananmen Square commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade is the first to feature Chinese generals leading troops, signaling the resolve of the PLA to boost morale and combat capability within its ranks, according to the China Daily newspaper.
The parade, which featured 12,000 troops, 500 pieces of military hardware, and 200 aircraft, had at least one general at the head of each foot and armament formation. Some officers also flew the lead aircraft in the air echelons.
The participation of generals was meant to demonstrate the ability of senior army officers to lead their troops, as well as their sense of duty in setting an example for the troops, Major General Wang Shun, deputy director of the parade joint command, told the press prior to the event.
"We believe these commanders can shoulder the historical task of building a strong army," he added.
With an average age of 53, several of the generals have had combat experience, according to military insiders.
Chinese media also noted the presence of Major General Tian Ou--China's first and only female general--in the parade. The 56-year-old Tian led a formation of an all-female medical team named after the Canadian neurosurgeon Norman Bethune, who served with China's Eighth Route Army during the Second World War.
The generals reportedly lost as much as 11lbs (5kg) after training with the troops at their bases over the past few months in preparation for the parade.
"The experience of attending the parade together with the soldiers helps foster a closer relationship between us," said Rear Admiral Liu Gengqun from the North China Sea Fleet. "It is good for coordination on the battlefield in the future."
The parade also saw the largest number of PLA honor guards to attend such an event.
A total of 207 troops from the army, navy and air force, of which 51 are women, formed the honor guard, China Daily said in its report.