Published : 2025-03-07
On March 7, 1978, China's military system underwent a significant reform.
On that day, the 1st Session of the 5th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress discussed and approved the Decision on the Conscription System.
The "Decision" stated that the implementation of the compulsory military service system in China had played an positive role in strengthening the construction of the army and the militia, and accumulating reserve forces for the Chinese military.
According to the Decision, in order to accelerate the modernisation of the Chinese military, a military system that combines compulsory service with voluntary service was adopted.
Based on the needs of the troops and the voluntary choice of the individuals, some conscripts may be converted into volunteer soldiers, and the service term for current conscripts was appropriately extended.
On May 31, 1984, the 2nd Session of the 6th National People's Congress reviewed and passed the newly revised "Military Service Law of the People's Republic of China", which came into effect on October 1 of the same year.
It stated that the People's Republic of China (PRC) implemented a conscription system with conscripts and volunteers as the main body, and combined militia and reserve services.
It also stipulates that citizens of the PRC, regardless of ethnicity, race, occupation, family background, religious belief, or education level, are obliged to serve in the military in accordance with this law.
