Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-vt8vv Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2024-08-17T23:36:14.017Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Demobilization: The Dialectics of PLA Troop Reduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Yitzhak Shichor
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

In recent years, Western and Asian countries have been warning, and warned, against the so-called ”China threat.” These warnings reflect Beijing's military-related policies, primarily the consistent increase in China's defence expenditures since the early 1990s, its resumed acquisition of arms from the former Soviet Union, its continued nuclear tests, and its contribution to the proliferation of conventional, semi-conventional and, allegedly, non-conventional weapons. In their repeated attempts to refute the “China threat” syndrome, Chinese leaders stress, among other things, the 25 per cent cut of about one million troops in the size of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), announced in the mid-1980s. Reportedly slicing it from about 4.2 million to about 3.2 million, this massive demobilization is usually treated, not only byChina watchers but also by the Chinese themselves, as an essential aspect of their ongoing defence reform which goes hand-in-hand with military-tocivilian conversion.

Type
Management of the PLA
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 146 , June 1996 , pp. 336 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. “Struggle for a fundamental turn for the better in the financial and economic situation in the country,” in Kau Michael Y. M. and Leung John K. (eds), The Writings of Mao Zedong, 1949–1976, Vol. I, September 1949–December 1955(Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1986), p. 100.

2. Ibid. Vol. II, January 1956-December 1957,pp. 190–199.

3. Jianshe, Zhou, Guofang ziyuan de nixiang kaifa-Zhongguo junzhuanmin wenti yanjiu (The Peaceful Development of Resources of National Defence-A Study of the Conversion of Military Resources to Civilian Fields in China)(Changsha: Hunan chubanshe, 1992), p. 186Google Scholar. See also Gittings, John, The Role of the Chinese Army(London: Oxford University Press, 1967), pp. 22–25, 76–77, 96–97, 305.Google Scholar

4. The Writings of Mao Zedong,Vol. II, p. 475.

5. Dreyer, June Teufel, “The demobilization of PLA servicemen and their integration into civilian life,” in Dreyer, June Teufel (ed.), Chinese Defense and Foreign Policy(New York: Paragon House, 1989), p. 300.Google Scholar

6. Nelsen, Harvey W., The Chinese Military System: An Organizational Study of the Chinese People's Liberation Army(Boulder: Westview, 1977), pp. 18–21.Google Scholar

7. Zhenxi, Cao, Zhenxian, Sheng and Linsheng, Qiao, “Zhongnanhai 's deep love-a record of party and government attaching importance to the work of placement of transferred military cadres,” Jiefangjun bao (Liberation Army Daily),4 April 1991, p. 1, in Foreign Broadcast Information Service, Daily Report: China(hereafter FBIS-CHI), 10 May 1994, pp. 19–24; Zhou Jianshe, Guofang ziyuan de nixiang kaifa,p. 186; and Dreyer, “Demobilization,” pp. 305–306.Google Scholar

8. “The army needs to be consolidated” Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping 1 (1975–1982)(Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1984), p. 11.

9. “The task of consolidating the army,” Selected Works 1,p. 32.

10. Ibid. pp. 35–38.

11. “Speech at a plenary meeting of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the CPC,” Selected Works I,pp. 91, 96.

12. “Streamline the army and raise its combat effectiveness,” Selected Works I,pp. 269–270.

13. Ibid. pp. 270–71.

14. Dreyer, “Demobilization,” p. 306.

15. “Streamlining organizations constitutes a revolution,” Selected Works 1,pp. 372–79.

16. “Speech at a forum of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the CPC,” Selected Works 1,pp. 386–390.

17. People's Republic of China Yearbook 1984(Beijing: Xinhua, 1984), p. 255; Zhou Jianshe, Guofang ziyuan de nixiang kaifa,p. 186; and White Paper on Arms Control and Disarmamentissued by the PRC State Council Information Office, Xinhua, 16 November 1995, in FB1S-CHI, 16 November 1995, pp. 22–23.

18. Dreyer, “Demobilization”, pp. 311–15, and Dreyer, June Teufel, “Reorganizing and modernizing the Chinese military,” in Kau, Michael Ying-mao and Marsh, Susan H. (eds), China in the Era of Deng Xiaoping: A Decade of Reform(Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 1993), pp. 343–344. See also People's Republic of China Year Book 1988/89(Beijing: Xinhua, 1988) pp. 190–191.Google Scholar

19. “The army should subordinate itself to the general interest, which is to develop the country,” Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping 2 (1982–1992)(Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1994), p. 106.

20. Dreyer, “Demobilization,” pp. 309–310, 316–19.Google Scholar

21. “Speech at an enlarged meeting of the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China,” Selected Works 2, p.131.

22. White Paper,p. 23 and People's Republic of China Yearbook 1988/1989,p. 18.

23. On some of the problems involved in trying to reconcile conflicting PLA manpower figures, see International Institute of Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 1987–1988,p. 143, and 1988–1989,p. 146. “The PLA remains far larger than most analysts, myself included, have surmised.” Jencks, Harlan W., “Organization and administration in the PLA in the year 2000,” in Yang, Richard H. (ed.), SCPS Yearbook on PLA Affairs 1988/89(Kaohsiung, Taiwan: Sun Yat–sen Center for Policy Studies, 1989), p. 44.Google Scholar

24. Pi–hua, Kuang, “Large scale reorganization of Chinese armed forces,” Guang jiao(Hong Kong), No. 239 (16 August 1992), pp. 14–15Google Scholar, in FBIS-CHI, 19 August 1992, p. 27; Chao, Liang, “State bid to resettle ex-soldiers,” China Daily,14 December 1993, p. 3; South China Morning Post(Hong Kong, hereafter SCMP), 13 January 1994, pp. 1, 10.Google Scholar

25. Zhenxi, Cao et al.,“Zhongnanhai's deep love,” p. 21.Google Scholar

26. Ibid. p. 20, and Xinhua, 5 April 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 20 May 1994, pp. 30–31.

27. Xinhua, 23 October 1993, in FBIS-CHI, 3 November 1993, pp. 41^2, and Gao Jinan, “Ex-soldiers encouraged to turn to business,” China Daily,20 May 1993, p. 1.Google Scholar

28. Shan, Yueh, “58 generals to retire,” Zhengming(Hong Kong), No. 207 (1 January 1995), pp. 18–19, in FBIS-CHI, 16 February 1995, pp. 42–43.Google Scholar

29. Jiangong, Lin and Shigao, Zhu, “Several problems in modernizing China's national defense,” Mao Zedong sixiang yanjiu (Studies in Mao Zedong Thought)(Chengdu), No. 2 (25 May 1986), pp. 71–75, in Joint Publications Research Service, China: Political and Social Report(Washington, hereafter JPRS-CAR), 18 August 1986, pp. 64–65.Google Scholar

30. Kaixi, Zhou, “Effect of market economy on military officers′ thinking and remedies therefor,” Guofang (National Defence)(Beijing), No. 3 (15 March 1994), pp. 12–13, in JPRS-CAR, 15 July 1994, p. 65.Google Scholar

31. Ibid. pp. 63–64.

32. Ibid. p. 66.

33. Cao Zhenxi et al.,“Zhongnanhai's deep love,” p. 22.

34. Ibid. p. 23.

35. Chao, Liang, “State bids to resettle ex-soldiers,” China Daily,14 December 1993, p. 3.Google Scholar

36. State Information Centre, “China's national economic prospects,” Jingji cankao bao (Economic Reference Journal)(Beijing), 23 February 1995, p. 2, in FBIS-CHI, 29 March 1995, p. 31.

37. Shengzu, Gu, “Reform of state-owned enterprises and placement of surplus labour force,” Renmin ribao (People's Daily)(Beijing), 23 March 1995, p. 9, in FBIS-CHI, 16 May 1995, pp. 35–38.Google Scholar

38. “2.5% unemployed Chinese youth in urban areas,” China Daily,20 May 1993, p. 1, and Zhongguo tongxun she, 13 September 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 4 October 1994, p. 70.

39. Haiyuan, Du, “Interim report on research project entitled The question of staff and workers in reforming state-owned enterprises′,” Jingji yanjiu (Economic Studies)(Beijing), No. 1 (20 January 1993), pp. 58–65, in FBIS-CHI, 14 May 1993, p. 27.Google Scholar

40. Shang-wen, Mo, “China's employment system reform faces serious challenges-unemployment is a concern that spans the century,” Bai xing (The People)(Hong Kong), No. 38 (1 March 1994), pp. 44–45, in JPRS-CAR, 17 June 1994, pp. 50–52Google Scholar; Zhigang, Chen, Zhenghui, Xu and Ruiling, Zhang, “Investigation and analysis of unemployment situation among urban workforce,” Zhongguo gaige (China Reform)(Beijing), No. 2 (13 February 1995), pp. 35–38, in FBIS-CHI, 3 April 1995, pp. 37–41; Cao Min, “Rising labour surplus presents new challenge,” China Daily,24 April 1995, p. 4.Google Scholar

41. “Unemployment problem requires immediate action,” China Daily,26 August 1994, p. 2, and Zhongguo xinwen she, 26 April 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 27 April 1995, p. 36; Zhou jianshe, Guofang ziyuan de nixiang kaifa,p. 188; Alexander, J. Davidson, “Military conversion policies in the USA: 1940s and 1990s,” Journal of Peace Research,Vol. 31, No. 1 (1994), pp. 19–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

42. Zhenxi, Cao et al., “Zhongnanhai's deep love,” pp. 23–24; Xinhua, 5 April 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 20 May 1994, pp. 30–31.Google Scholar

43. Ibid. and Qiao Linsheng, “State Council and Central Military Commission approve dissemination of proposal on job placements for demobilized military cadres,“ Jiefangjun bao,5 April 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 4 May 1994, p. 28.

44. Xinhua, 5 April 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 21 April 1994, p. 21.Google Scholar

45. “State Council, Central Military Commission issue circular on major adjustments to the policy of placement for demobilized military servicemen,” Renmin ribao,27 October 1994, p. 4, in FBIS-CHI, 3 November 1994, pp. 30–31. See also Xinhua, 26 October 1994, in FBIS-CHI, 28 October 1994, p. 23.Google Scholar

46. Fumin, Wu and Bin, Lu, “Doing a good job of ‘separation’ and ‘reassignment’ to promote development and stability-on the difficult and key aspects of reform in state-owned enterprises,” Xinhua, 5 July 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 24 July 1995, pp. 47–18.Google Scholar

47. Zhou Kaixi, “Effect of market economy,” p. 64.

48. Jiagui, Bian and Linsheng, Qiao, “As another major measure to reform the cadre and personnel system, China will appoint public servants from among demobilized army officers,” Jiefangjun bao,14 March 1995, p. 1, in FBIS-CHI, 5 May 1995, p. 34.Google Scholar

49. Guizhou People's Radio, 22 May 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 6 June 1995, p.42.

50. Shandong People's Radio, 30 May 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 1 June 1995, p. 27. See also Li Gongli, “Make concerted efforts to comprehensively implement the placement policy,” Tianjin ribao,15 June 1995, p. 1, in FBIS-CHI, 5 July 1995, pp. 38–39.Google Scholar

51. Xinhua, 28 February 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 3 March 1995, pp. 33–34; Xinhua, 5 April 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 7 April 1995, pp. 37–38; Xinhua, 7 April 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 20 April 1995, pp. 13–14. For the text of the circular on resettling demobilized soldiers, issued by the State Council and the CMC, see Xinhua, 30 October 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 7 November 1995, p. 24.Google Scholar

52. .This information emerged during the celebration of PCC 40th anniversary.Xinhua,10 October 1994, in FBIS-CHI,11 October 1994, p.90, and 18 October 1994, pp.21–22.For the historical background, see Nelson, The Chinese Military System, pp 190–193.

53. Chieh, Kuan, Two CPC orders on expanding the police force, Zhengming, No.209(1 March 1995), pp.18–19, in FBIS-CHI, 25 May 1994, pp13–14.Google Scholar

54. Ni, Zuo, Jiang Zemin, Li Pen sign order on expanding the police force, Zhengming, No.209(1 March 1995), pp. 18–19, in FBIS-CHI, 27 April 1995, pp 27–28.Google Scholar

55. shan, Guan,“Tao Siju, Chinese Public Security Minister, answers reporter's question.”Zijing(Hong Kong), 5 March 1995, pp.13–15, in FBIS_CHI, 17 March 1995, p.50.Google Scholar

56. SCMP, 1 June 1995, p.9, in FBIS_CHI, 1 June 1995, p.26

57. Nelsen, The China Military System,pp. 22–23, 177–181.

58. Ibid. p. 182.

59. ribao, Renmin, 5 June 1984, in FBIS–CHI, 6 June 1984, p. K/l 1, quoted in Ellis Joffe, The Chinese Army After Mao(London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1987), p. 89Google Scholar. See also Lee, Ngok, China's Defence Modernization and Military Leadership(Sydney: Australian National University Press, 1989), pp. 16–19, 102–118.Google Scholar

60. Jiguang, Zhang, “What is the effect of the stock system on the training of reserves?” Zhongguo minbing (Chinese Militia)(Beijing), No. 3 (9 March 1995), p. 7, in FBIS-CHI, 29 June 1995, p. 33.Google Scholar

61. Gittings, The Role of the Chinese Army,pp. 150, 207–208.Google Scholar

62. The full text was published by Xinhua, 11 May 1995, in FBIS-CHI, 24 May 1995, pp. 35–41, and in Zhongguo minbing,No. 6 (9 June 1995), pp. 3–6, in FBIS-CHI, 7 September 1995, pp. 33–37. See also Editorial, “Strengthening reserve forces,” Jiefangjun bao,13 May 1995, p. 1, in FBIS-CHI, 21 September 1995, pp. 22–23.Google Scholar

63. “Strengthen building of contingent of reserve officers according to law,” Renmin ribao,15 May 1995, p. 3, in FBIS-CHI, 23 May 1995, pp. 41–42.Google Scholar

64. Xinhua, 23 October 1993, in FBIS-CHI, 3 November 1993, pp.41–42Google Scholar

65. Zhou Kaixi, “Effects of market economy,” p. 64.Google Scholar

66. Hui-wen, Jen, “The case of the civil aviation industry's recruitment of personnel from the air force disturbs Zhongnanhai,” Xin bao(Hong Kong), 25 February 1994, p. 22, in FBIS-CHI, 16 May 1994, pp. 50–52.Google Scholar

67. Wu Xianping, “The ‘epidemic disease of business cards’ has hit the barracks,” Jiefangjun bao,7 February 1994, p. 3, in FBIS-CHI, 17 February 1994, p. 30.Google Scholar

68. On these issues, see Shichor, Yitzhak, “Defence policy reform,” in Segal, Gerald (ed.), Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy Reform(London: Kegan Paul International, 1990), pp. 77–99, and “China's defence in a changing world,” in Kevin P. Clements (ed.), Peace and Security in the Asia-Pacific Region: Post Cold War Problems and Prospects(Dunmore & United Nations University, 1992), pp. 183–203.Google Scholar

69. Interview in Wenhui bao(Shanghai), 2 September 1991, pp. 1, 4, in FBIS-CHI, 12 September 1995, pp. 14–15.