To celebrate the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, China Unicom is offereing its subscriber base film clips of the Korean War and pictures of weapons and/or military figures. So why is China Unicom offering such a strange variety of content to celebrate? According to company official Yu Peng,
“I believe it will be popular since we have so many military fans in China.”
The PLA has about 2.25 million active troops, which would be huge anywhere else in the world, but the population is hovering around 1.4 billion or so. Does anyone else smell propaganda? Customers can also receive military news directly from the army’s newspaper for just $1 a month.
But it’s not about the money at all says China Unicom,
By doing it, we are celebrating the PLA’s 80th anniversary. And in the process providing more healthy content through mobile phones.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
China offers war movie clips to mobile phone users [Reuters]
