The PLA Day. Photo: GT

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is set to celebrate its 97th founding anniversary on Thursday (August 1) after a year of intensive missions and development to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests amid deteriorating security situations in the world and tensions around China.

On the way to reach its centennial goals in 2027, the PLA is expected to further enhance its training level and equipment development, and improve national defense at its own pace, experts said.

China continued to face grim security situations over the past year, with the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea being regional hot spots. However, the PLA's resolute and powerful moves deterred potential conflicts, defended national sovereignty, security and interests, and safeguarded regional peace and stability, observers said.

A frontpage story of the People's Daily on Wednesday dedicated to the PLA's 97th founding anniversary and its upcoming centennial in 2027 highlighted, among others, the Joint Sword-2024A exercise, which took place around the island of Taiwan from May 23 to 24 featuring army, navy, air force and rocket force affiliated with the PLA Eastern Theater Command.