Conscription has never been implemented in China since 1949 as the People's Liberation Army has been able to recruit sufficient numbers voluntarily.[1] Residents of Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macau), are exempted from joining the military.
The Chinese system operates through a process of draft registration.[2][3] The process for registering for the draft is written in Part 13, Article II of the Military Service Law of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国兵役法). Citizens who reach the age of 18 by 31 December of the year should register for the draft before 30 June of the year. Those who meet the physical requirements become registered draft-capable citizens.[4] Article 55 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China prescribes conscription by stating: "It is a sacred duty of every citizen of the People's Republic of China to defend his or her motherland and resist invasion. It is an honored obligation of the citizens of the People's Republic of China to perform military service and to join the militia forces."[5]
De jure, military service with the PLA is obligatory for all Chinese citizens. All 18-year-old males have to register themselves with the government authorities,[6] in a way similar to the Selective Service System of the United States. Local governments have recruitment quotas, and registered citizens are not called when the quotas are met.[6] These registered citizens automatically become reserves and are required to attend short training sessions periodically before age 22. They would no longer be liable for service after age 22.[6] Those who are aged between 17 and 18 can also voluntarily register for the draft.[7] In practice, mandatory military service has not been implemented since 1949 as the People's Liberation Army has been able to recruit sufficient numbers voluntarily.[1][8][9]
Those who voluntarily join the force are still counted as "conscripts" in the PLA but are provided with personal allowances, family subsidies, and post-service employment support. If the "conscripts" choose to stay in the force after two years of service, they can become a non-commissioned officer (NCO), with a higher, regular salary.[10]
According to Jamestown Foundation, the Chinese military has indistinct definitions of the terms regarding conscription.[11] For example, the term "conscripts" (Chinese: 义务兵; pinyin: Yìwùbīng; lit. 'obligated soldier') refers to all enlisted military personnel regardless of their status as recruited, conscripted, or voluntarily joined. Similarly, the term "conscription" (Chinese: 征兵; pinyin: Zhēngbīng; lit. 'conscription') makes no distinction between "conscription", "enlistment", and "recruitment" in the PLA documentation. Those who volunteered to join the force are still called "[being] conscripted" by the PLA.[11]
Even though mandatory military service has not been implemented since 1949, people avoiding service when called up are still liable for punishment, and Beijing authorities criticize those youths who do not want to join the army.[12]
