(Photo/CGTN)

China has established its highest military award, the Order of August 1 (Bayi), and publicized the first batch of candidates for the honor.

Approved by the Central Military Commission, the Order of August 1 will be awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, and advancing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

A list of 17 candidates nominated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed police force and public security force have been made public to receive comments both from the military and the general public.

Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng, commander of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, is among the 17 candidates. Jing is the only Chinese astronaut who has entered space for three times, during the Senzhou-7 mission in 2008, the Shenzhou-9 mission in 2012 and last year's Shenzhou-11 mission.

August 1 is the founding anniversary of the PLA, and this year marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the PLA.