Scenes from the edges of parade

Powerful weapons protect peace

CHINA DAILY Zhao Lei REPORTER

I believe that watching a seemingly endless stream of tanks, armored vehicles and missile launchers passing through Tian'anmen Square will be an unforgettable memory for every viewer of Thursday's magnificent parade.

Standing tens of meters away from the moving troop formations, I was taken by the honor of being a witness to the historic event and by pride in my motherland's greatness.

Such feelings were especially strong when the Type-99 tanks and ZBD-04A infantry fighting vehicles roared past me, because I know their combination gives the People's Liberation Army the most formidable strike force that no one else possesses across Asia. Knowing this is very meaningful to me as I am aware of the fact that China was easy to invade in the 1930s due to its weak ground force and lack of advanced arms.

Then came the strategic missiles－including the DF-16 short-range ballistic missile, DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile and the DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile.

Their appearance indicates at least one thing－intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range of 15,000 km and the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile make it now virtually impossible to invade China from the sea.

The Chinese people cherish peace and hate war, but we also know that peace must be guarded by strong national defense, which heavily depends on an arsenal of powerful weapons.

I am convinced the display of China's advanced weapons didn't aim at showing the PLA's muscle or intimidating neighboring countries, as some foreign media claimed. Instead, it should act as a perfect reminder of our determination to safeguard the peace of China, Asia and the entire world.

However, for some foreign politicians who brazenly deny history or may hold malicious intentions toward China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests, what they witnessed on Thursday will definitely force them to rethink whether they have enough guts and strength to challenge China.

I am not a believer in the saying that "might is right", but I do believe that if a nation has no might, it has no rights.