As the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) marked its 77th anniversary this April, the image of 99-year-old veteran Sui Baoliang stepping onto a modern guided-missile destroyer in Qingdao provided a potent symbol of China’s military trajectory. Sui, a survivor of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and the Korean War, represents the 'living history' of the People’s Republic, connecting its agrarian revolutionary roots to its current status as a maritime superpower.
The visit occurred during an expansive series of 'Open Day' events where dozens of active-duty vessels were made accessible to the public across major port cities. For the Chinese Communist Party, these events are more than mere public relations; they are essential tools for fostering 'National Defense Education' and reinforcing the narrative of national rejuvenation. By showcasing its high-tech fleet to a veteran who fought with bolt-action rifles, the state emphasizes the immense progress made under its leadership.
Local authorities in Qingdao’s West Coast New Area facilitated the visit, highlighting the growing role of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in bridging the gap between the military and civil society. This bureaucratic coordination ensures that the stories of the 'old guard' are woven into the modernization of the 'new guard,' providing a sense of historical continuity and legitimacy to the PLAN’s rapid expansion.
Today's PLAN is unrecognizable from the coastal defense force Sui would have known in his youth. With three aircraft carriers and a fleet that now exceeds the United States Navy in hull count, the force is increasingly focused on power projection far beyond the First Island Chain. Sui’s presence on deck serves as a poignant reminder to the domestic audience that the hardships of the 20th century were, in the official view, a necessary prelude to the naval dominance of the 21st.