China’s ‘weapons’ in miniskirts

At its October 1 National Day parade, China rolled out an awesome array of made-in-China military hardware, including nuclear-capable ICBMs that can strike Europe and the US.

But all of China is abuzz over another set of “weapons of mass destruction” that were on show at the parade: a mini-skirted phalanx of the Beijing Women’s Militia Police, whose trendy, figure-flattering pink outfits, calf-length go-go boots and immaculate in-step marching drew plenty of applause — and even a rare smile from a normally dour President Hu Jintao.

The militia is a civilian force, and marching at this year’s parade were university students, corporate workers, village officials — and even young mothers! The two women who were heading the marching militia unit — Zhang Xiaofei and Zhao Na — are final-year students at China Women’s University in Beijing, who deferred their graduation for the honour of participating in this year’s 60th anniversary parade. They are also professional models — and China’s newest sweethearts. 

Within a day of the parade that awed the world with its sheer choreographic excellence, diligent Chinese internet users dug out modelling shots of Zhang and Zhao, including a few photographs of them in bikini. Zhang has modelled for L’Oreal cosmetics and a mainland Chinese apparel brand, and Zhao has appeared in print advertisements for foreign carmakers Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Both of them hail from the Shandong province in China’s east, and had appeared as hostesses at last year’s Beijing Olympics.

For the two fashion models, getting in step with the rigorous military training was a huge effort. According to media accounts, in the early days, they couldn’t even stand at attention — and were mocked by the fellow-militia members. They then claim to have taken it as a challenge to excel — however painful it was. If the others did 20 push-ups, they did 50. And even though their skin became tanned and calloused from long hours of marching, putting their future modelling careers at risk, they didn’t flinch.

China built up its civilian militia force for the first time in 1958, during Chairman Mao Zedong’s time; about 600,000 of them participated in that year’s National Day festivities in various capacities. That same year, the female militia unit made its debut. The unit was actively cultivated for its capacity to project “soft power” as much as to serve as an inspiration for the country’s women — who, Mao famously said, “hold up half the sky”.

As the profusion of rapturous reviews of this year’s parade show, the female militia members can evidently kill with just their good looks.