A squad of 119 officers and soldiers from the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have participated in three rehearsals for the Victory Day military parade scheduled for Friday in Moscow's Red Square, pledging to showcase the Chinese army's dignified appearance and movements.
At the invitation of the defense ministries of Russia and Belarus, the PLA has dispatched members of its Guard of Honor squad to participate in the upcoming military parades which will be held in Moscow as well as the Belarusian capital Minsk on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. In Russia, the PLA Guard of Honor squad participated in three rehearsals for the military parade on the evening of April 29 and May 3, and Wednesday morning.
During the rehearsals, the officers and soldiers sang military songs, which were warmly welcomed by Chinese international students in Russia and local residents.
"In order to better display the friendship between China and Russia, we've also learned to perform classic Russian songs 'The Sacred War' and 'Kalinka', and to say ''Long live the friendship between China and Russia, long live world peace' in Russian on the Red Square," said Liu Chao, soldier of the Guard of Honor of Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The PLA Guard of Honor's participation in the Red Square parade this time will not only be a lofty tribute to the friendship between China and Russia in the Anti-Fascist War, but also a solemn defense of the historical justice of World War II, and a solemn declaration of the determination to maintain world peace.
After arriving in Moscow, the PLA Guard of Honor squad, have been carefully refining their preparations and undergone rigorous training to ensure their participation in the event will be completed to the highest standard. The members have even endured an unexpected bout of unseasonal snowfall in the Moscow area in recent days, but say they are well prepared to overcome any such challenges brought by the weather.
"We have learned from our experiences in previous overseas missions, how to best overcome jet lag, adjusting to temperature differences, and to new terrain and environments, as well as adapting our marching steps and speed accordingly. We have also made full preparations to handle any adverse weather conditions or environmental challenges which may arise, so as to ensure we perform at our best during this grand military parade," said Zhang Dingxin, officer of the Guard of Honor of Chinese People's Liberation Army.
PLA Guard of Honor attends three rehearsals for Russia's Victory Day military parade
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
