The law introduced the obligation for all schools at all levels to “include national defense education in their work and teaching plans and take effective measures to ensure the quality and effectiveness of national defense education.” In particular, ordinary colleges, universities and high schools will be responsible for strengthening students' military skills training. The training will be provided by the PLA, which will also be responsible for sharpening students' military will. National defense education teachers will be selected from among personnel who love the cause of national defense education and have solid military theory, knowledge and skills necessary for national defense. Priority should be given to the recruitment of retired military personnel.
Today, September 18, the full text of the new law on national defense education strongly desired by Xi Jinping was published.
The new regulation was adopted at the eleventh meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress held on September 13, 2024.
"Nationalism emphasizes a particular People and its distinctive traditions and sense of political destiny; it varies with changing customs, practices and political experiences."
The law - promulgated by Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 30 - consists of 42 articles and will come into force on September 21, 2024.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
The key points of the new regulation
The law first introduced the obligation for all schools of all levels (in particular for high schools and universities the obligation previously did not exist unlike middle schools) to "include national defense education in their work and teaching plans and adopt effective measures to ensure the quality and effectiveness of national defense education."
Article 2 - The state carries out national defense education among all citizens in the fields of theory, knowledge and skills, as well as science and technology, law and psychology, with patriotism as the core and fulfilling national defense obligations as the goal, and in relation to national defense and military construction. National defense education is the basis for building and consolidating national defense, and is an important way to strengthen national cohesion and improve the quality of all people.
Article 7 - All citizens of the People's Republic of China have the right and obligation to receive national defense education.
Article 13 - National defense education in schools is the foundation of national defense education for the whole people and an important part of the implementation of quality education [...] Schools should include national defense education in their work and teaching plans and take effective measures to ensure the quality and effectiveness of national defense education.
Article 16 - National defense education in schools shall be integrated with publicity and education on military service to increase students' awareness of performing military service in accordance with the law and create a good atmosphere in which military service is glorious.
Article 17 - Colleges, ordinary universities and high schools organize the military training of students according to the regulations. Military training of high school, university and college students will be organized and implemented by the educational institution responsible for military training or by military instructors.
Article 19 - Ordinary colleges, universities and high schools, in accordance with the military training program of students, shall strengthen military skills training, hone the will and quality of students, strengthen organizational discipline and improve the level of military training.
Article 21 - The various educational institutions responsible for training state personnel shall integrate national defense education into their training plans and establish appropriate courses of national defense education.
Article 33 - National defense education for all peoples shall use a unified national defense education program. The national defense education curriculum shall be organized and formulated by the central department in charge of national defense education. Teaching materials for national defense education that are suitable for the educational objectives of different categories and regions should be compiled and revised by the relevant departments or local organizations in accordance with the national defense education curriculum and in conjunction with the characteristics of the department and region.
Article 34 (2) - National defense education teachers will be selected from among personnel who love the cause of national defense education and have solid military theory, knowledge and skills necessary for national defense. Priority should be given to the recruitment of retired military personnel.
Article 35 - The Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces shall, as necessary and in accordance with relevant regulations, select military instructors for organized national defense education activities and provide necessary military training venues, facilities, equipment and other amenities.
This law is in line with traditional Chinese thought; thought, which contains a strategic perspective of nationalism that asserts Beijing’s right and responsibility to govern the world through its nation’s unique and refined culture and institutions. This strategy also includes views on the correct stance in world affairs, the flow of history, military strategy and tactics, economic power, and domestic political order.
The CCP draws on important components of traditional politicalthought to reinforce the belief that authoritarian rule is the basis of China’s manifest superiority and intrinsic centrality.
The CCP frames this strategy as an effort to realize long-standing nationalist aspirations to restore China to a position of strength, prosperity, and leadership on the world stage. The Party has long viewed China as engaged in a major international strategy that places it in competition with other states, particularly the United States.
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