Friday marks the 87th anniversary of the founding of Chinese People's Liberation Army. Over the past year, negative news about the army seems to have been more common than at any time in recent years. The nation was shocked by the exposure of a few corrupt high-ranking military officers, especially Xu Caihou, the former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission.

But this year is also a year in which the Chinese army has put more effort into shoring up Chinese national security. It has played an increasingly important role in dealing with simmering situations in the South China Sea.

Given all the facts, we would like to answer some controversial questions about the Chinese army on its anniversary.

First, is the Chinese army corrupt? Corruption within the organization really gripped the attention of many people. A handful of fallen military officers seriously tarnished the image of the army. This is the last thing that Chinese people expect.

But if we consider this problem from another perspective, we will realize that it is impossible that the army can entirely avoid being affected by the growing social problems. However, in this nationwide anti-graft campaign, the army has been carrying forward policies in the manner of executing a military order, which has made the anti-graft campaign within the army have the best results.

Second, is it a waste of national wealth to develop military strength? There are some voices questioning the rise of the Chinese military budget. They should realize that it only accounts for 1.5 percent of Chinese GDP, much less than the US' 4 percent. The Chinese army needs funding to engage in competitive rivalry with other countries so that China's national security and strategic deterrence can be guaranteed.

Third, does the Chinese army interfere in people's everyday lives? Recently some complaints have been heard stating that the increasing frequency of military drills has caused some inconvenience to people's daily lives, such as more air traffic controls. This is a false impression. The truth is, the Chinese army sticks to the principle of maintaining a close and caring relationship with the populace, and it shows strong self-restraint to not disturb the daily lives of the people.

Fourth, how many young people want to get enlisted in the army? It is true that joining the army is not as attractive as getting a job in the government.

This situation proves that joining the army requires more commitment and effort, and the Chinese army is the most dedicated force to the welfare of the country and its people.

The army is usually depicted as a positive and proactive role by the mainstream cultures of major powers. Supporting the army should also remain the mainstream attitude among China's diverse cultures.