"Chinese Companies Establish Internal Militia Units One After Another... A Regression to the 1970s"

Strengthening of the 'People's Armed Forces Department' Centered on State-Owned Enterprises
Reinforced After Over 50 Years Since Mao Zedong's Death
"Aimed at Crackdown on Protests Over Economic Recession and Youth Unemployment"

[Image source= Xinhua News Agency]

As Chinese companies are successively establishing internal militia organizations, attention is focusing on the background of this trend. The practice of creating militia organizations not only in state-owned enterprises but also in private companies is considered an unusual move both inside and outside China, as it was something seen only during the Mao Zedong regime in the 1970s.

Experts analyze that the Chinese government is expanding militia organizations to strengthen internal control amid serious economic recession and youth unemployment issues, which have led to ongoing social unrest and protests in various places.

"Employees of private companies also participate in militias in 16 state-owned enterprises"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to CNN on the 20th (local time), over the past year, dozens of major companies, including 16 state-owned enterprises in China as well as private companies, have organized and trained internal militia organizations called the 'People's Armed Force Department (PAFD).' CNN explained that the PAFD is a concept similar to the U.S. National Guard, which serves as a reserve and auxiliary force in emergencies in China.

The Chinese government has actively encouraged companies to establish PAFD organizations since last year. According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Wu Qian (吳謙), spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, stated in an October briefing last year that "establishing PAFD in state-owned enterprises is necessary to fulfill national defense duties and strengthen national defense construction."

Major companies where PAFD has been established include state-owned enterprises such as Shanghai Chengtou Group, an investment group of the local government; Wuhan Urban Construction Investment Development Group; PowerChina (China Electric Power Construction Group Equipment Research Institute); Wuhan Metro; Huizhou Water Resources Corporation and Transportation Investment Group; and Jiangsu Province's Hai'an Urban Construction Investment Group.

Private companies are also increasingly establishing PAFD organizations. Yili Group, a major dairy company headquartered in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, established a PAFD at the end of last year. This is the first PAFD established by a private company in the Inner Mongolia region. Yili Group's competitor, the state-owned Mengniu Group, also launched a related organization in May last year.

Over 200 million militia members increased during the 1950s Taiwan 'Kinmen Artillery Battle'

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The recent establishment of these PAFD organizations is the first such occurrence in over 50 years since the 1970s in China. According to CNN, the PAFD existed extensively in China from the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 until the end of the Mao Zedong regime in 1976.

In particular, during the 1950s 'Kinmen Artillery Battle' near the Taiwan border following the Chinese Civil War, the PAFD was expanded nationwide in preparation for a full-scale war with Taiwan. At that time, more than 200 million Chinese were members of the PAFD. They were mobilized by the Mao Zedong regime alongside the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution.

After the fall of the Mao Zedong regime and the implementation of China's reform and opening-up policies, the number of PAFD members drastically decreased from 200 million to about 8 million. CNN pointed out that the recent increase in PAFD organizations after more than 50 years is considered a very unusual development even within China.

Analyzed as a means of internal social control amid economic recession and youth unemployment

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Experts believe that these militia organizations within companies are more likely to be used as a means to strengthen internal control rather than to prepare for external war. This is because social unrest is increasing due to a surge in labor disputes and protests amid overlapping economic difficulties and unemployment.

In fact, last year China's economy grew by only 5.2%, below the government's official target, with growing concerns over economic collapse due to deepening real estate downturn, deflationary pressures, rising youth unemployment rates, and soaring local government debt.

Protests and strikes by workers dissatisfied with economic hardship, youth unemployment, and wage arrears are also increasing significantly. According to China Labor Bulletin, a labor-focused nonprofit organization headquartered in Hong Kong, the number of labor strikes and protests in China last year reached 1,794 cases, more than double the 830 cases in the previous year.

Neil Thomas, a China politics expert at the U.S. think tank Asia Society, told CNN, "The expansion of the PAFD is for internal control amid China's slowing growth and increased geopolitical conflict risks. Since company militias are organizations directly commanded by the military, they can help more effectively suppress social unrest such as protests and strikes across China."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.