PLA Air Force crosses historic threshold to become strategic air force

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has crossed a historic threshold to become a strategic air force, integrating air and space capabilities while coordinating offensive and defensive operations, according to an episode of CMG's six-part documentary The Road to Victory, released on Saturday to mark the 99th anniversary of the PLA's founding.

The latest episode follows the PLA Air Force's journey and explores its mission and aspirations beyond the skies.

"The People's Air Force of the new era has historically stridden over the threshold to become a strategic air force, integrating air and space capabilities and coordinating offensive and defensive operations," said Wang Weihong, an aviation unit member of the PLA Air Force.

On the new journey, Wang and other soldiers, as the new generation of revolutionary troops, face the new task of shouldering new historic responsibilities.

"All is silent and still here, with only the majestic snow-capped mountains for company," said Zheng Jiapeng, a radar operator of the PLA Air Force.

"This is where military aircraft soar and where a smart air-and-space domain is taking shape," said Deng Jianping, an airman of the PLA Air Force.

The Road to Victory premiered on Thursday on CCTV-1 (CCTV General Channel) ahead of China's Army Day, which falls on Aug 1, or Saturday this year.

PLA Air Force crosses historic threshold to become strategic air force

Chinese crested terns, one of the world's rarest seabird species, have been recorded in coastal wetlands in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, for a seventh consecutive year.

Bird photographers captured images of the critically endangered birds on July 23 and 24, with sightings this season reported to be more frequent than in previous years.

With a global population of just over 200, the Chinese crested tern is under China's highest level of national protection. Its rarity and elusive nature have earned it the nickname "the mythical bird" in the country.

The species breeds mainly on uninhabited islands off the coasts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in east China. Between July and September, some birds stop in Nantong's coastal wetlands to rest and feed during their seasonal migration.

The repeated sightings underline the role of Nantong's wetlands as a stopover site for rare migratory birds, as Jiangsu continues efforts to restore wetland habitats.

Rare Chinese crested terns return to east China wetland for seventh year