China rolls out new wartime conscription rules amid tensions with Taiwan | World news

China has launched a new set of revised rules for military recruitment in wartime, including giving priority to veterans, training senior soldiers and optimizing recruitment processes, which analysts describe as combat readiness for a war. on Taiwan.

A set of revised rules on military recruitment has been released by the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) – the highest command of the Chinese military led by President Xi Jinping – aimed at providing institutional solutions for national security coordination and building a strong military force, the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.

The new policy, with 74 articles in 11 chapters, focuses on recruiting more high-quality soldiers, standardizing and improving operational procedures, and improving the system’s efficiency, he said in a brief report.

The new rules will come into effect next month.

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The instructions said recruitment should “focus on preparing for war” and increase efficiency by inviting “high-quality” recruits, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

For the first time, a separate chapter on wartime recruitment has been included in the regulations, which states that ex-servicemen will be essential and expected to join their original units or similar positions.

The new rules were announced as Beijing faces geopolitical tensions on several fronts, including in the South China Sea, particularly in the Taiwan Strait, according to the report.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) broke new ground in its latest exercise around Taiwan by testing its ability to block the self-governing island.

The three-day exercises that ended on Monday followed Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

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China views Taiwan as a breakaway region. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to reunite the self-governing island with the mainland.

China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as a violation of Beijing’s sovereignty over the island.

Although the exercises are over, the PLA maintains a significant presence in the Taiwan Strait, keeping Taipei on a tight leash.

During a visit to the PLA’s Southern Theater Command on Wednesday, President Xi stressed the importance of accelerating the transition to a modern combat role through “exercises based on real combat” and new battle concepts.

It asked the military to protect China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of neighboring areas amid rising tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea is disputed, although Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

Chinese and Indian troops are still locked in a three-year-old standoff at a battleground in eastern Ladakh even as both sides have completed the withdrawal of troops from several areas following diplomatic and military talks. .

India has been maintaining that its relations with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

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Explaining the addition of the “wartime recruitment” chapter to military regulations, a CMC official said, “to ensure regular replacement of soldiers and additional needs of soldiers during wartime, the regulations refer to actions which is common in many countries. .. and set up a special chapter to organize the issue of employment during the war.”

Citizens who receive a recruitment notice during wartime must go to a designated place in time to enlist or face punishment, according to the regulations, the Post reported.

During wartime, the regulations state that the State Council and the CMC can adjust recruitment conditions and methods “within the scope of the law,” leaving room for further changes.

The amendment is part of a series of efforts by Beijing to adjust and improve its legal system to better support wartime policies in the face of increasing geopolitical pressure, while operating its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, the Post report said.

In February, Chinese lawmakers approved a resolution that gives the military the power to change how the Criminal Procedure Code is used during wartime, “to protect military missions and” improve [the PLA’s] the power to win in battle”.

Beijing-based military law expert Xie Dan said the amendment fills a gap in China’s wartime law, but is also diluted by the need for military preparations, including against Taiwan.

“The Anti-Secession Law defines the conditions for Taiwan’s decision to be resolved through non-peaceful means. Improving the relevant military tactics is undoubtedly one of the important contents of the current military preparations,” Xie told the Post.

China’s military laws – especially related to wartime – have become “weak points” in the decades of peace since China last participated in a war, he said.

In addition to its 2021 amendment to the military service law, Beijing also amended the Reservist Law in December to accelerate the development of the reserve forces, which refers to pre-selected civilians who will become key components of the PLA. during the war.

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According to Xie, the new recruitment regulations offer more practical and detailed rules for wartime recruitment. The priority of veterans is important because of their skills and experience in operating hi-tech weapons, he said.

The PLA recruitment also targets college students and graduates, especially those with science and engineering backgrounds, to fulfill Xi’s goal of building a world-class military industry. 2050.

Former PLA chief Song Zhongping played the role of changing the strategy for any possible military action by Beijing. The goal of the amendment is to “improve the legality of recruitment” as part of military reforms, he told the Post.