China Marks 99th PLA Anniversary With Army Day Ceremonies
China commemorated the 99th founding anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with a grand reception in Beijing, Army Day greetings from President Xi Jinping, and renewed pledges to thwart separatist schemes and foreign military interference.
Defense Minister Dong Jun, speaking at a reception hosted by the Ministry of National Defense at the Great Hall of the People on July 31, vowed the PLA would “resolutely thwart any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist schemes and foreign military interference,” Xinhua reported.
A Critical Year for Military Modernization
Dong Jun described 2026 as a critical year in the campaign to achieve the military’s centenary goal by 2027, noting it also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March victory. He framed the PLA as “a stable cornerstone of national reunification” and said China’s military was willing to work with “like-minded forces of justice” to jointly address global security challenges.
A day earlier, Xi Jinping, who also serves as chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the 27th collective study session of the CPC Central Political Bureau on the high-quality advancement of national defense and military modernization, Xinhua reported. Xi stressed that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China must “achieve the centenary goal of military building on schedule,” emphasized that political work is the foundation of the people’s army, urged deeper anti-corruption efforts, and called for accelerated application of unmanned and intelligent technologies to build an intelligent military system.
On the eve of Army Day, Xi also signed a commendation order granting Yang Yong of PLA Unit 91548 a first-class merit for national defense science and technology, Xinhua said.
Commemorations Beyond Beijing
The celebrations extended well beyond the capital. The PLA Hong Kong Garrison hosted its own Army Day reception at Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks on August 1, attended by about 400 guests including Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, according to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong. Garrison Political Commissar Lai Ruxin said the garrison stood ready to make new contributions to safeguarding Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, while Lee thanked the troops for their strong support of the SAR’s development.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan also held a reception in Tokyo, where Ambassador Wu Jianghao said China-Japan relations faced “serious difficulties” and were being subjected to new shocks, according to China News Service.
What the 99th Anniversary Signals
The PLA traces its origins to the Nanchang Uprising of August 1, 1927, and this year’s commemorations carry particular weight because August 1, 2027 marks the PLA centenary and the deadline for the “centenary goal” of building a world-class military — a target set at the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017 and repeatedly reaffirmed by Xi since then.
The anniversary messaging signals continuity in China’s defense posture. Dong Jun’s Taiwan remarks mirror statements from previous Army Day celebrations, reaffirming Beijing’s insistence on unification and its opposition to external involvement in the Taiwan Strait. The Tokyo reception, meanwhile, highlights the diplomatic friction surrounding China’s military rise, with Wu blaming Japan’s words and deeds for violating repeatedly confirmed political consensus.
For observers, the festivities offered a preview of the final stretch toward the PLA’s centenary. With less than a year to go, attention will focus on whether Beijing delivers further modernization milestones — and how it chooses to project military strength in the Taiwan Strait and beyond.