Recently, several departments of the Chinese Communist Party simultaneously released new policies related to conscription and military pharmaceutical management, sparking external attention on its possible connection to “preparation for war”.
Yesterday, on April 9, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Education issued a notice encouraging and guiding college students, especially graduating students, to join the military. It stated that college students are “important talent resources for building a world-class army”, urging the youth to integrate their personal ideals into the “great cause of building a strong country and army”.
The notice requires all universities to set up conscription promotion boards in main roads, cafeterias, and dormitory areas, and to carry out conscription promotions synchronously at key points such as freshmen military training, campus recruitment, and graduation ceremonies. Universities are required to complete the task of recruiting graduating students by the end of August.
In recent years, the youth unemployment rate in China has repeatedly hit high levels, directly impacting social stability. This year, the number of graduating students from mainland Chinese universities has reached 12.22 million.
In addition to the conscription policy, there have been new developments in military pharmaceutical management in the Chinese Communist Party.
On April 5, the State Council and the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party jointly issued the “Drug Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China”, covering various aspects such as the research, procurement, storage, and supervision of military pharmaceuticals. The law will come into effect on June 1, 2025.
Article 9 specifically states that the military will implement a “reserve system for wartime pharmaceuticals” and establish a collaborative mechanism with the national pharmaceutical reserve system to respond to emergencies such as wars, disasters, and epidemics.
The document stipulates that military medical institutions are not allowed to allow “military special-needed drugs” to flow into the market or be used for commercial sales. If needed for local supply, approval must be obtained according to regulations.
Currently, the Chinese Communist Party is actively promoting both the mobilization of college conscription and the construction of military pharmaceutical systems. Whether this involves a broader range of military deployment has not yet been officially explained. We will continue to track these developments for you.