PLA takes over flag-raising duty at Tian'anmen Square on New Year's Day

Dozens of members from the People's Liberation Army Guards of Honor raised the national flag at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Monday morning.

This move has meant that the PLA has replaced the Armed Police Force to guard the national flag and fire salute cannons, as ordered by the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Saturday.

Previously, national flags were raised, lowered and guarded by Armed Police officers at key sites such as government complexes, public squares and memorials. The Armed Police was also responsible for firing cannons at important occasions such as welcome ceremonies for State guests.

Around 7:31 am, a group of 96 honor guards, headed by a flag holder and two escort guards, marched out from the central gate of the Tian'anmen Rostrum and walked past two columns of their peers standing across the Chang'an Avenue. They then reached the restricted zone around the flag post and stood in formation. At 7:36 am, an honor guard raised the national flag, which was accompanied by the national anthem played by a PLA band.