Conscription in China
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) began as an all-volunteer force. In 1955, as part of an effort to modernize the PLA, the first Military Service Law created a system of compulsory military service.[1] Since the late 1970s, the PLA has been a hybrid force that combines conscripts and volunteers.[1][2][3] Conscripts who fulfilled their service obligation can stay in the military as volunteer soldiers for a total of 16 years.[1][3]
Registering for the draft[edit]
The Chinese system operates through a process of draft registration.[4][5] De jure, military service with the PLA is obligatory for all Chinese citizens. However, mandatory military service has not been enacted in China since 1949.[6][7] According to The World Factbook, "the PLA’s conscription system functions as a levy; the PLA establishes the number of enlistees needed, which produces quotas for the provinces; each province provides a set number of soldiers or sailors; if the number of volunteers fails to meet quotas, the local governments may compel individuals to enter military service."[8]
By law, male citizens have to register themselves with the government authorities when they reach 18 years old.[9][better source needed] Local governments have recruitment quotas, and registered citizens are not called when the quotas are met.[9][better source needed] These registered citizens automatically become reserves and are required to attend short training sessions periodically before age 22. They would no longer be liable for service after age 22.[9][better source needed] Those who are aged between 17 and 18 can also voluntarily register for the draft.[10] In practice, mandatory military service has not been implemented since 1949 as the People's Liberation Army has been able to recruit sufficient numbers voluntarily.[7]
Legal definition and language differences[edit]
Those who voluntarily join the force are still counted as "conscripts" in the PLA but are provided with personal allowances, family subsidies, and post-service employment support. If the "conscripts" choose to stay in the force after two years of service, they can become a non-commissioned officer (NCO), with a higher, regular salary.[11]
According to Jamestown Foundation, the Chinese military has indistinct definitions of the terms regarding conscription.[1] For example, the term "conscripts" (Chinese: 义务兵; pinyin: Yìwùbīng; lit. 'obligated soldier') refers to all enlisted military personnel regardless of their status as recruited, conscripted, or voluntarily joined. Similarly, the term "conscription" (Chinese: 征兵; pinyin: Zhēngbīng; lit. 'conscription') makes no distinction between "conscription", "enlistment", and "recruitment" in the PLA documentation. Those who volunteered to join the force are still called "[being] conscripted" by the PLA.[1]
Punishment[edit]
Even though mandatory military service has not been implemented since 1949, people avoiding service when called up are still liable for punishment, and Beijing authorities criticize those youths who do not want to join the army.[12][non-primary source needed]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Allen, Kenneth (14 January 2022). "The Evolution of the PLA's Enlisted Force: Conscription and Recruitment (Part One)". China Brief. 22 (1). Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "China is struggling to recruit enough highly skilled troops". The Economist. November 6, 2023. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
In the late 1970s it adopted the current hybrid system of volunteers and conscripts.
- ^ a b Allen, Kenneth W.; Corbett, Thomas; Taylor A., Lee; Xiu, Ma (November 3, 2022). "Personnel of the People's Liberation Army" (PDF). United States–China Economic and Security Review Commission. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "市政府征兵办发布网上兵役登记通告 适龄公民必须参与兵役登记 (Conscription Office Announced That Citizens of the Right Age Must Register for the Draft.)". Wen Wei Po. 2017-01-27. Archived from the original on 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ^ "今年征兵准备工作全面展开 国防部征兵办公室下发通知确保高质量完成征兵任务 (The Preparation of Recruitment in This Year Has Begun. Ministry of Defence Announced That the Conscription should be finished in high quality)". Xinhua News Agency. 2016-01-11. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ^ Wang, Amber (30 April 2022). "The new rules China hopes will build more professional soldiers". South China Morning Post.
- ^ a b "Taiwan Is Extending Conscription. Here's How Its Military Compares to Other Countries". Time. 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Military service age and obligation". The World Factbook. Archived from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ a b c "Country report and updates: China". War Resisters' International. 15 March 1998. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "今年征兵准备工作全面展开 国防部征兵办公室下发通知确保高质量完成征兵任务 (The Preparation of Conscription in This Year Has Begun. Ministry of Defence Announced That the Conscription should be finished in high quality)". Xinhua News Agency. 2016-01-11. Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
- ^ "中国服兵役是强制的吗". 66 Lawyer Consultant. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ Hao Peng-yu (郝鵬宇), Yan Hao (嚴浩) (2016-04-21). "三名青年拒服兵役當逃兵被依法處罰 (3 youths escaping from the army are punished)". 中國國防報 (Chinese Journal of Defense). Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
