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PLA Reserve Forces - History

China first established a reserve force in 1955. According to the "Order on Organizing Reserve Divisions" issued by the Ministry of National Defense, a batch of reserve forces have been formed in the military regions of Chengdu, Wuhan, Kunming, and Lanzhou. In June 1957, the Military Commission issued the "Instructions on Improving Military Service", combining the militia and reserve service into one. According to the "Order on Organizing Reserve Divisions" issued by the Ministry of National Defense, a group of reserve forces have been formed in Chengdu, Wuhan, Kunming, Lanzhou and other military regions, and more than 100,000 reserve soldiers have been pre-edited. The reserve division was cancelled in 1957. In March 1958, on the order of the Ministry of National Defense, the reserve divisions were collectively changed jobs, and the reserve divisions were cancelled.

After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Military Commission borrowed advanced foreign experience, combined with China's national and military conditions, and decided to restore the reserve system. It clearly put forward the construction direction of combining a lean standing army with a strong national defense reserve force.

Starting from the formation of the mobilization division (later called the reserve division) on March 25, 1983, the Shenyang Military Region, Beijing Military Region and other units began to form reserve forces. In May 1983, the General Staff Department issued a notice, clarifying that the reserve force shall be uniformly organized, and that the relevant divisions and regiments shall each grant a corresponding military flag, and shall be given a designation, and the seal shall be engraved as required. Since then, the Chinese reserve forces have taken historic steps and started a period of comprehensive construction.

By 1984, the original Shenyang Military Region had formed a total of 12 Army reserve divisions and 26 independent reserve regiments, with a total strength of more than 200,000 people.

On August 10, 1986, the three headquarters issued a notice stipulating that the reserve force was formally included in the People's Liberation Army formation sequence. On May 10, 1995, the 13th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress adopted the Law of the People's Republic of China on Reserve Officers. On March 24, 1996, the Central Military Commission issued the "Instructions on the Schedule of Awarding Reserve Officers." By the end of the 20th century, this unit had developed into an important force with a combination of infantry, artillery, armor, engineering, communications, and chemical defense forces.

On March 14, 1997, the National Defense Law of the People’s Republic of China adopted at the fifth session of the Eighth National People’s Congress pointed out that the armed forces of the People’s Republic of China are composed of the active and reserve forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese people. The police force and the militia are formed.

The reserve force is composed of a small number of active-duty soldiers and consists of retired (retired) soldiers. It consists of reserve officers and soldiers. It has a unified establishment, is awarded military flags, designations, and is equipped with weapons and equipment. The reserve force is under the dual leadership of the military and the field. It is different from active forces and militia organizations. It is a form of combination of peace and war. It is the first batch of mobilization targets in the early days of the war. It is also a surprise force to deal with emergencies and undertake urgent, difficult and dangerous tasks.

The reserve forces are usually affiliated with the provincial military region and are under the command of the designated active forces in wartime. The main officers of the reserve force divisions, regiments, battalions and some companies, as well as the main cadres of government departments and departments are active duty soldiers, and the rest are qualified reserve officers and registered reserve soldiers among local cadres and retired veterans. The reserve forces are organized according to the region of residence.

The “Military Service Law of the People’s Republic of China” amended in December 1998 stipulates that the first category of soldier reserve includes retired soldiers under the age of 35 who have been registered to serve in the reserve, and places under the age of 35 who have been registered to serve in the reserve. Military professional technical personnel, other reserve soldiers under the age of 28 who are included in the reserve force and are scheduled to the active duty; the second category of soldier reserve includes those who are included in the militia organization except those serving in the first category of soldier reserve Personnel and other male citizens under the age of 35 who are registered to serve as soldiers in reserve.

China will reduce its army reserve while increasing reserves for other services, said a senior officer of the country's national defense mobilization department on 10 March 2017, on the sidelines of the ongoing sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC). Sheng Bin, chief of the National Defense Mobilization Department of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), said while the army reserve will be reduced, the reserves of other military services including the navy, air force and the rocket force will be increased in a bid to keep up with China's military buildup, as the military reform has made headway.

The structure of the reserve forces will adapt to information warfare from traditional combat-oriented and mechanized ones, said the chief. According to the CMC guideline, a new structure will be established in which the CMC will take charge of the overall administration of the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese People's Armed Police and the militia and reserve forces. The battle zone commands will focus on combat preparedness, and various military services will pursue development.