War games China prepares its children for potential conflict

At Beijing Jiaotong University's affiliated elementary school, children perhaps six or seven years old stand in a line in a rainbow-painted hallway.

- Helen Davidson, Chi-hui Lin

A boy holds a replica handgun, and behind him other children grasp unwieldy replica assault rifles.

Fake police flak jackets cover their blue and white tracksuits, and their heads swim inside too-big helmets.

In other photographs they practise drills, salute visiting soldiers and arrange themselves on a sporting field to spell out "I heart u" next to a Chinese flag.

In the post that includes the photos, published online in April, the school says it aims to "create a strong atmosphere of national defence education, carry out rich and colourful activities, cultivate students' patriotism, love for the army and organisational discipline, and cultivate their ambitions to build and defend the motherland from an early age".

It is among thousands designated as "model schools for national defence education", part of China's push to increase military awareness and skills among its population - starting at younger and younger ages.

More designations announced in January by the ministry of education and the Central Military Commission almost doubled the number of model schools.