On 25 July 2025, the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a reception celebrating the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army of China. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang and Defence Attaché Major General Feng Min addressed the reception. Ben Merrick, Director of International Security of the UK Ministry of Defence, also delivered remarks. Nearly 300 guests attended the event, including UK government officials and Members of Parliament, and diplomatic envoys and defence attachés of various countries.
In his speech, Ambassador Zheng pointed out that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA has braved wind and rain and grown from strength to strength over the past 98 glorious years. It has made remarkable contributions to the liberation of the people, the development of the country, and the security of the motherland, making indelible achievements for the Party and the people. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the PLA is stepping up efforts towards the goal of building a world-class military by the PLA’s centenary. The PLA will continue to provide strategic support for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and make new contributions to peace and stability in the world.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The peoples of China and the UK fought valiantly against fascist aggression on the main Eastern Front and the European battlefield, making huge sacrifices for the cause of justice and important contributions to the global victory against fascism. China’s fight was the earliest to begin, and the longest-lasting. The Chinese people suffered the most significant human and material losses before ultimately defeating Japanese aggressors.
Ambassador Zheng noted that this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the recovery of Taiwan. Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China’s territory since ancient times. The Chinese people and their armed forces will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China. Nor will they allow any external forces to undermine their efforts for complete reunification.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the current international situation is experiencing transformation and instability. The international community should resolutely defend the outcomes of the victory of WWII, firmly uphold true multilateralism, steadfastly safeguard world peace, stability, fairness and justice, and jointly build community with a shared future for humanity.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, China-UK relations have embarked on the right track of improvement and development. The two sides should uphold the original vision for their strategic partnership, follow the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences and pursuing mutual benefits through cooperation, and earnestly implement the policy outcomes of the dialogue mechanisms, so as to write a new chapter in China-UK relations. Military-to-military relations are an important component of China-UK relations. In April, UK Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin visited China, and the two sides had high-level strategic exchanges. The two militaries should enhance dialogue and exchanges, improve mutual understanding and trust, and play an important role in the sound development of China-UK relations.
In her speech, Major General Feng Min said that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the PLA has been deepening the reform of national defence and the military and making steady progress in its modernisation and combat capability. The PLA is firmly committed to defending national sovereignty, security and development interests, to putting people first, and to safeguarding peace. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Chinese military's first participation in UN peacekeeping operations. China is the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second-largest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments. Over the past 35 years, the Chinese military has undertaken 26 peacekeeping missions, dispatching more than 50,000 peacekeepers in total. Among them, 17 Chinese peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice, dedicating their youth, passion, and lives to the cause of UN peacekeeping.
Several videos were shown at the reception, including Guardians, For Peace, and The PLA, and copies of China Military magazine were put on display. Guests warmly congratulated the PLA on its 98th anniversary, and expressed their willingness to increase exchanges and cooperation with China.
