The revised “National Defense Education Law” of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is set to come into effect on September 21, 2024, signaling a sense of urgency in the CCP regime’s defense efforts, according to analysts. The amendments to the law, rushed to be implemented by September 20, are seen as measures to address various crisis situations in national defense.
The updated “National Defense Education Law” stipulates that the country will carry out defense education among all citizens with patriotism as the core, aimed at fulfilling defense obligations and encompassing theoretical, knowledge, skills, and aspects of defense-related technology, law, and psychology.
Furthermore, the revised law specifies that defense education in schools forms the foundation of national defense education for the entire population. It mandates that universities and high schools (including schools at the same level) should enhance military training levels according to the outline for student military training.
In light of the CCP’s revision of the “National Defense Education Law”, Li Yingzhi, an active advocate of the Chinese civil rights movement, expressed during an interview with Epoch Times, that the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait imply that the CCP must be prepared for the possibility of war. Additionally, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine poses significant disadvantages for Russia, and a potential failure in the war could greatly impact the CCP regime. “So I think the CCP’s enactment of the amended ‘National Defense Education Law’ is a response to these circumstances,” Li remarked.
Article 7 of the updated “National Defense Education Law” mandates that Chinese citizens have the right and duty to receive defense education. Li Yingzhi pointed out that while Article 46 of the Constitution entitles Chinese citizens to the right and obligation to education, the new requirement for defense education contradicts this constitutional provision.
He stated, “Because education mentioned in the Constitution definitely has certain limitations, so many of the CCP’s legislations do not comply with the Constitution, which is their ‘Chinese characteristics’.”
Additionally, in terms of societal defense education, the revised “National Defense Education Law” mandates that the units where reserve personnel are located should conduct reserve personnel education and training according to relevant regulations. Moreover, in the fourth chapter, the law addresses funding guarantees for defense education, suggesting support from the society through donations.
Li Yingzhi emphasized that the CCP regime is facing a pressing situation in defense. “Looking at the recent friction with India, it appears that the CCP wants to address these crisis situations in defense by amending these laws and rushing their implementation by September 20.”
Shen Mingshi, a researcher and director at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, highlighted in an Epoch Times interview that in recent years, the CCP’s conscription efforts have not been effective, sometimes requiring multiple rounds of conscription. While rural soldiers are keen on joining the military, they may lack the ability to operate high-tech weapons. Hence, the military needs more high school or university graduates who are capable of handling advanced weaponry.
He believed that the emphasis on strengthening defense education in schools, especially in high schools and universities, aims primarily to address the shortage of military personnel. Additionally, regarding societal education, combining the public with the reserve force helps solve the issue concerning reserve forces and the reserve personnel.
Furthermore, the CCP’s draft includes enhancing military propaganda education in schools to strengthen students’ awareness of “obligatory military service under the law” and intensifying the brainwashing of young students.
Shen Mingshi stated, “Since the 1989 Tiananmen incident, many people have not favored the People’s Liberation Army or the People’s Armed Police. To alter the image of the military or to reinforce public identification with the military, they have strengthened these aspects in the ‘National Defense Education Law’.”
Through the “National Defense Education Law,” authorities aim firstly for all citizens to endorse their actions in foreign or regional areas. Secondly, given their current international isolation, there is a possibility of engaging in conflicts and wars with neighboring countries in certain regions. In the event of conflicts or wars, if they need to mobilize resources or manpower, they must convince the public that the conflict or war is legitimate through the law.
He pointed out that all wars require justifications and legality as excuses, and through the “National Defense Education Law” and this platform, they can make the public believe that the CCP’s initiation of such military actions is “reasonable,” “just,” and so forth.
He believed that the current amendment is tailored to future potential war scenarios that the CCP might face, providing complementary measures to their national defense laws and related reserve force laws.