Chinese army in action

Once a year, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Engineering Academy opens its doors to foreign journalists. Representatives of the press can see with their own eyes all the best that the Chinese army wants to demonstrate - military equipment, demonstration exercises created at the academy of dancing robots, and smiling soldiers.

23 PHOTOS

1. In this way, Beijing wants to allay the fears of the world community about the ever-growing military power of China. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP).

2. - We do not need to have an enemy to improve our army. The development of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is in line with the overall development of China, one of the commanders told reporters in an interview. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

3. “When I was little, I really wanted to become a soldier,” says 26-year-old Liao Gofend. In China, a soldier is respected. Now my dream has come true. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

4. Carefully patronized during the tour of the base, the journalists could talk to the servicemen. The men patiently answered all questions - from the number of earnings to the reasons that prompted them to join the army. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

5. The inscription on the slogan reads: "Listen to the instructions of the party!" (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

6. A soldier screams during a demonstration exercise. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

7. A group of cadets proudly displayed miniature robots dancing to George Michael's "Careless Whisper". (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

8. The creation of miniature electronic humanoids is one of the activities of the academy. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

9. In the classroom for electronics. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

10. One of the soldiers guards access to the electronics workshop. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

11. However, the main emphasis in the academy is on the training of future officers and the maintenance of tanks. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

12. A soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army during a display of equipment for the press. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

13. The Academy is located near one of the most symbolic places in China - the Marco Polo Bridge, where the Sino-Japanese War began after the so-called "bridge incident" in 1937. The Japanese army then occupied most of China, including Beijing and Shanghai. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

14. It is believed that about 20 million Chinese (including 17.5 million civilians) and 1.1 million Japanese died in the war. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

15. A soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on guard during training colleagues. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

16. At present, relations between China and Japan are far from being at their best due to a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea, as well as a difficult military past. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

17. Cadets regularly visit not only the Marco Polo Bridge but also other important historical sites. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

18. This year, the excursion of the press representatives to the academy took place for the fourth time. (Photo: PETAR KUJUNDZIC/REUTERS)

19. The world community fears that China is not revealing the full truth about its military spending. This year they will amount to 12.2 percent of GDP, or about 808.2 billion yuan. However, a large number of analysts believe that the real cost is much higher. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

20. Ministry of Defense spokesman Jeng Yansheng says there is no cause for concern, as Beijing has committed itself to not hiding anything in contact with the outside world. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

21 – Some reports regarding China and our armed forces are false or inaccurate. That is why it is so important to constantly demonstrate our army to journalists, the press secretary emphasized. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

22. However, when asked about the possibility of a visit to the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, the spokesman answered evasively. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)

23. “I can’t say that there is no such possibility,” said Jeng Yanseng. “However, there are a lot of military exercises at this time of the year, so the excursion cannot be organized now. (Photo: ANDY WONG/AP)