China Liaoning warship’s sole female senior officer urges fellow women to prioritise professional skills

The sole female senior officer aboard China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has urged women to put aside their gender and focus on professionalism and responsibility.

On March 7, during the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a poised and confident female military deputy in uniform captured nationwide attention.

Zhu Yuemeng, 36, from a modest family in Jilin province, northeastern China, is a naval lieutenant colonel and serves as a political instructor on board the Liaoning aircraft carrier.

The Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, measures around 300m in length and was commissioned in September 2012.

Data from Tsinghua University’s national defence website reveals that about five per cent of its crew is female, though the total count remains undisclosed.

According to the state media China National Radio, Zhu is the only female senior officer on board responsible for political education in military operations.

Zhu remembered the gruelling training at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Aeronautical University, recalling how she broke down in tears after completing her first 3km run.