Recently, the Shanghai base of the People’s Liberation Army East Sea Fleet forcibly reclaimed welfare housing from retired military personnel, sparking dissatisfaction and protests from the retirees and their families, leading to clashes between the two sides. Police were reported to arrest and beat people, with elderly individuals in their seventies being knocked down to the ground and subdued, leaving them no channel for seeking protection of their rights.
Retired military personnel at the Navy’s Shanghai base received a “Housing Determination Notice” issued on October 27th, stating that according to the regulations of the Central Military Commission’s “Management Measures for Military Apartments” (Document No. 35 of the General Office of the Military [2023]), soldiers leaving active duty should vacate their original family apartments. The notice required professional military personnel to vacate their apartments by November 20th, with measures to reclaim housing for those who fail to do so within the deadline. However, it also stipulated that if “no other housing is available at the station, they can provide supporting documents to apply for temporary rental” as per the stipulated house lease contract.
Just three days after the notice was issued, a video from October 31st showed individuals in black clothing and camouflage pouring glue into locks of the barracks residents’ doors, sealing them with tape and taking photos.
A source informed reporters that the welfare housing previously allocated to retired military personnel by the logistics department of the former unit during their transition is now being deemed as military base apartments. They are being demanded to vacate within a set period, with the base resorting to harsh tactics such as cutting off water and power, welding shut entryways, in their forceful eviction operation. It is estimated that over a thousand retired personnel from the Shanghai stationed units have been affected, with some holding positions of not insignificant rank.
This move has stirred strong discontent among the retired personnel. Some individuals have taken photos of their sealed doors and posted them online, creating works titled “Military Retirees Humiliated”, with content surrounding “welded doors”, attributed to the “Shanghai Base Barracks Office”.
In early November, family members and retired military personnel gathered in the Navy’s Shanghai base’s Number One Community to protest. Videos from the scene show elderly individuals lining both sides of the community road, unified in holding banners and chanting slogans, displaying messages such as “Oppose illegal encroachment, vow to defend legitimate housing”, “Support the clearing of irregular housing, steadfastly uphold legal rights and interests”, “Thoroughly implement Document No. 62 as per the law”, among others, with many residents capturing the scene through photographs.
Additionally, individuals congregated in front of the Navy’s Shanghai First Guesthouse, each holding a piece of white paper reading “Honorable Homeless”.
A large number of police and security forces rushed to the protest site at the Navy’s Shanghai base, resulting in arrests and physical altercations. Reports indicated that elderly citizens in their seventies were forcefully pushed to the ground, with one witness describing how “they pushed the elderly down to the ground.” Multiple conflicts erupted at the scene, with emotions running high, as some were grabbed by the neck and berated as “thugs”. Even individuals stating “police are beating people” were taken into custody.
An informant told reporters, “Many of them served in other regions when they were young and were transferred back to Shanghai, becoming national cadres. Before retiring, the units allocated housing to them, which were ordinary barracks referred to as family compounds. These houses have been occupied for over 20 years, and now they are being forced out abruptly without any economic compensation. Those living there are unwilling to leave: my son or daughter has served in the military their entire life, and now you want to kick me out, as an elderly woman?”
“They hired individuals dressed in black clothes and with buzz cuts, including urban management officers and security personnel. The security company specializes in engaging in such dirty work activities, and they are mainly outsiders who lack any sentimental attachment to Shanghai, not fearing offending the local residents. For these retired military personnel and their families stationed in Shanghai for decades, this place is like their own home, and the sentiments attached are entirely different.”
Journalists attempted to contact the housing office at the Shanghai base for clarification, but the personnel refused to respond, citing the inability to verify the reporters’ identity, subsequently hanging up the call.
The informant explained that unlike the army and air force bases with extensive territories and boundaries, the Navy family compounds in Shanghai are relatively small, integrated with the local community, with several buildings designated for navy families where many elderly individuals reside. The houses are typically no more than 70 square meters, located in less desirable areas due to the Navy base’s impossibility of being situated in the city center.
Reports have indicated that the violation of the housing rights of retired military personnel has also occurred in cities like Qingdao and Beijing. In cases where the military unit avoids direct involvement, they delegate such disruptive actions to third parties. If individuals refuse to vacate, they are required to pay a monthly rental fee of 5,000 yuan.
In a video recorded in front of a navy dormitory in Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, a naval veteran expressed his grievances, having served in the military for 23 years and having been allocated this housing in 1988 based on his years of service and rank. Having resided there for over 30 years, he purchased a commercial property upon retirement, only to face forcible eviction and clearance actions entailing welding shut doors, crushing locks, cutting off utilities. Such treatment towards a retired military official is appalling.
“They did not inform me; they just posted a notice here. All my belongings are inside, and they even have notarized and preserved evidence, what kind of behavior is this? Therefore, I must protest and appeal. This is my private property, allotted to me, and this situation is extremely excessive,” he asserted.
Why does the military need to reclaim these houses? Observers suggest that the People’s Liberation Army is severely corrupt, often colluding with local authorities, resulting in unchecked power and corruption within the military. As a lack of funds ensues within the military, they target the families of retired military personnel and the retirees themselves. This extreme action is a culmination of the dire financial situation faced by the military personnel.
In the year 2000, the State Council and the Central Military Commission promulgated the “Regulations on Housing Guarantee for Retired Military Cadres”, colloquially known as Document No. 62. Retired military personnel in Shanghai believe that Document No. 62 remains valid to this day, with no official decree revoking its effect. Their present plight stems from the failure of the military and local authorities to implement the document consistently, rather than being a consequence of retirement or personal property ownership. Their housing was part of their welfare as serving military personnel, part of the “old ways”. If the military wants to carry out forcible evictions, they must first coordinate with the Shanghai municipal government on resolving issues relating to economic housing for retired military personnel. This is the essence of “ensuring protection first, then clearing housing”.
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