PLA to take on flag guarding, salute cannon duty

The responsibility for guarding China's national flag and firing salute cannons will be transfered to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) starting Jan. 1, 2018, as authorized by the Communist Party of China Central Committee. 

Chinese paramilitary policemen of the National Flag Guard of the Chinese Armed Police Force (CAPF) march during a flag-raising ceremony on the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, China, 1 August 2007. [File photo: IC]

On Jan.1, the national flag rising ceremony at the Tian'anmen Square will be conducted by the Guard of Honor and the military band of the PLA at 7:36 a.m.

The event will be live broadcast by China National Radio, China Central Television, China Radio International as well as several web portals including www.people.com.cn and www.xinhuanet.com.

Before Jan. 1, the ceremony has been conducted by the armed police.