Beijing will host a grand military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Forty-five formations will march through Tiananmen Square, led by three flagbearers from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Ceremonial Guard, each carrying the Party flag, national flag, and military flag. On Thursday, Xinhua revealed the flagbearers: Wang Zihe (Party flag), Shi Bin (national flag), and Xu Zedong (military flag). All born after 1990, they average 189 cm in height and have performed over 300 ceremonial duties.
Wang Zihe, Shi Bin, and Xu Zedong
Wang Zihe, 30, leads with the Party flag along Chang’an Avenue, followed by disciplined troops. Tasked with perfect timing and precision, he said: “As a Party member, carrying the flag through Tiananmen is an honor and a heavy responsibility.” Reflecting on the Communist Party’s pivotal role in the war 80 years ago, he views the flag as a symbol of future victories. From a family of Resistance against Japanese Aggression War veterans, with his great-grandfather and grandfather having fought and relatives lost in the war, Wang joined the army in 2015, served as the military flagbearer in the 2019 National Day parade, and performed ceremonial duties in Russia, Belarus, and Korea. His WeChat profile declares: “Dedicate to the guard, honor the nation.”
Shi Bin, a 2009 enlistee, marks his fourth parade as the national flagbearer. The 3.35-meter flagpole and 4 kg flag demand rigorous training, especially in adverse weather when the flag grows heavier. Shi said: “The national flag symbolizes the nation; protecting its dignity is defending national pride.” In August 2022, during a Tiananmen flag-raising ceremony, Shi endured a hailstorm, maintaining perfect posture despite pain. He recalled the soaked flag’s added weight but said: “Rain or shine, we uphold the highest standards to honor the flag.” For him, guarding the flag outweighs life itself.
Xu Zedong, 30, from Shanxi, enlisted in 2013 and carries the military flag, evoking his oath to the People’s Liberation Army. Coming from a military family, with his grandfather and father serving in the air force, Xu grew up hearing their stories but only understood a soldier’s duty after donning the uniform. He shared a tale of a Red Army flagbearer during the Long March, who, trapped in a swamp, kept the flag upright in his final moments. Xu said: “The military flag guides victory. As soldiers, we ensure it flies high.”
