China enhances reserve forces buildup

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-20 14:21

China firmly relies on the people for national defense, and seeks to strengthen the buildup of the national defense reserve in compliance with the requirement of being able to deal with both emergencies and wars, says the White Paper on China's National Defense in 2008 issued Tuesday.

It is China's sixth white paper on national defense since the first one was issued by the Information Office of the State Council in 1998.

"After 25 years of buildup and development, the reserve force has become an important component of the national defense. It is made up of the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve and the Second Artillery Force Reserve," says the White Paper.

According to the White Paper, the Army Reserve breaks down into infantry, artillery, antiaircraft artillery, antitank artillery, tank, engineering, chemical defense, signals, coastal defense and other specialized forces.

The Navy Reserve is mainly composed of reconnaissance, mine-sweeping and mine-laying, radar observation and communications and other specialized forces.

The Air Force Reserve mainly comprises ground-to-air missile, radar and other specialized forces. The Second Artillery Force Reserve mainly consists of the specialized missile support force and special equipment maintenance force.

"In recent years, China has persisted in reform and innovation in militia force buildup, adjusted its size and structure, and upgraded its weaponry and equipment," the White Paper says.

The organizational structure has optimized to increase the capabilities of the militia forces to support combat and emergency response operations, and to gradually shift the center of its responsibilities from rural areas to cities, areas along communication lines and other key areas.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), it says, the number of militia personnel is scheduled to be reduced from 10 million to eight million.