10:43, 31-Dec-2017
Changing of the Guard: PLA to take over Tian'anmen Square flag-raising duties
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The routine national flag raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square will soon be done by a different group of forces. The Guard of Honor and the military band of the PLA will take over the task from the armed police, who have been responsible for the ceremony for 35 years.
The change will take effect on January 1. The flag raising ceremony will be conducted on 7:36 a.m. or 23:36 GMT Monday. The event will be live broadcast by China National Radio, China Central Television, China Radio International as well as several web sites.
The change followed a major step in the country's military reform earlier this week. The 1.5 million strong armed police force now takes orders from the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. Before the change, they reported to the State Council.