Conscription has never been implemented in China since 1949 as the People's Liberation Army has been able to recruit sufficient numbers voluntarily.[1] Residents of Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macau), are exempted from joining the military.

Registering for the draft

The Chinese system operates through a process of draft registration.[2][3] The process for registering for the draft is written in Part 13, Article II of the Military Service Law of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国兵役法). Citizens who reach the age of 18 by 31 December of the year should register for the draft before 30 June of the year. Those who meet the physical requirements become registered draft-capable citizens.[4] Article 55 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China prescribes conscription by stating: "It is a sacred duty of every citizen of the People's Republic of China to defend his or her motherland and resist invasion. It is an honored obligation of the citizens of the People's Republic of China to perform military service and to join the militia forces."[5]

De jure, military service with the PLA is obligatory for all Chinese citizens. All 18-year-old males have to register themselves with the government authorities,[6] in a way similar to the Selective Service System of the United States. Local governments have recruitment quotas, and registered citizens are not called when the quotas are met.[6] 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.[6] Those who are aged between 17 and 18 can also voluntarily register for the draft.[7] 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.[1][8][9]

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.[10]

According to Jamestown Foundation, the Chinese military has indistinct definitions of the terms regarding conscription.[11] 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.[11]

Punishment

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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kang Shi-ren (康世人) (2015-04-02). "解放軍地位高 農夫搶當兵(The soldiers of PLA are respected, peasants are scrambling to join the army". （臺灣）中央社(Central Agent (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2017-02-03.
  2. ↑ "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 (Shanghai). 2017-01-27. Archived from the original on 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ 《中华人民共和国兵役法》第二章第十三条：国家实行兵役登记制度。每年十二月三十一日以前年满十八周岁的男性公民，都应当在当年六月三十日以前，按照县、自治县、市、市辖区的兵役机关的安排，进行兵役登记。经兵役登记并初步审查合格的，称应征公民。
  5. ↑ Constitution of the People's Republic of China
  6. 1 2 3 "Country report and updates: China". War Resisters' International. 15 March 1998.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "Taiwan Is Extending Conscription. Here's How Its Military Compares to Other Countries". Times. 6 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "很多国家都强制男子服兵役，为什么中国不需要？". NetEase News. 16 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "中国服兵役是强制的吗". 66 Lawyer Consultant. 8 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 Allen, Kenneth (14 January 2022). "The Evolution of the PLA's Enlisted Force: Conscription and Recruitment (Part One)". China Brief. Jamestown Foundation. 22 (1).
  12. ↑ 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.
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