CPC, central military commission to lead reserve forces
The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission will lead reserve military forces starting July 1, in a move which analysts said will help bring out the best in reserve forces, especially in border areas of its Tibet and Xinjiang regions, improve combat capability and facilitate their cooperation with active-duty units.
The decision, issued by the CPC Central Committee, was made public on Sunday, noting that reserve forces are an important part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The change in the leadership structure is aimed at upholding the CPC’s absolute leadership over the army and building a strong military in the new era, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The PLA Daily released a commentary on Monday, vowing to implement the “crucial political move” of the CPC Central Committee.
“Centralizing the leadership of reserve forces will make it easier to mobilize and manage reserve forces. They are important supplementary parts of active-duty military units,” said Li Daguang, a professor at the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army.
Some technicians of military enterprises are also reserve force members. They will provide technical and equipment support in times of war, Li said.
Many reserve forces have their specialties. For example, media reported Tibet has five militia groups involved in patrols, communication, engagements, and rapid response. And 20 personnel who are good at wrestling and unarmed combat from a fighting club are reportedly enrolled as members of the militia.
The news has attracted attention from Indian media as they are giving rolling coverage of the border situation after the clashes in which at least 20 Indian soldiers were reportedly killed and there were also casualties on the Chinese side.
Li said that reserve forces in China would not be normally mobilized until a large-scale local war breaks out. Existing Chinese military forces are enough to solve military conflicts, such as one between China and India over the border.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that China has always kept a close watch on the developments of reserve forces in the border areas, especially in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as they are important parts of local military preparedness and battles against separatism.