China will confer its highest military award -- the Order of August 1 (Bayi) -- to 10 outstanding servicemen of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Aug. 1, and the top criteria for this award is absolute loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Order will be personally presented to the awardees by Chinese president Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) that controls the PLA.

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That absolute loyalty to the Communist Party of China is the top criteria for the award is understandable since the PLA owes its primary loyalty to the CPC and not the Chinese state or the Chinese people. Because of this, the PLA has been criticized as being nothing more than a massive security guard agency whose Number One job is to protect the CPC and its 85 million members.

The other three criteria to win the Order of August 1 are excellent performance; fine work style and public recognition.  The Order will be signed and presented by Xi.

It was established on December 25, 2015 along with the Order of the Republic; the Order of July 1 and the Order of Friendship when the CPC Central Committee issued a notice of the national awards system.

It honors PLA servicemen that demonstrated exemplary service in defense of state sovereignty and national security, and helped modernize national defense and the armed forces.

The PLA; the People's Armed Police and public security forces nominated 17 men, whose names have been published for feedback from the military and general public.

The 10 men to be conferred this award on Aug. 1 will be honored as part of activities commemorating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the PLA on August 1.

Pundits said the Order not only honors soldiers who fight and win battles, but more importantly, will serve to encourage more young people to contribute to China's significant strategies, such as the One Belt and One Road initiative and blue-water navy strategy.

The Order of August 1 will be conferred every five years.

Tagschina, Order of August 1 (Bayi), Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping