Cindy Zheng, Timothy Heath
On April 19, the Qinghai Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, a major state-owned commercial bank, held an opening ceremony for its new People’s Armed Forces Department (PAFD; 中国民兵). This department will be run by the Xining garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) (Xining TV, April 23).
Under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping, the PAFD has experienced a resurgence in activity. Reflecting broader apprehension about domestic security, the PAFD has increased its involvement in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and bolstered its political control. It has also stepped up efforts to support the military’s modernization through enhanced training and recruitment. While these measures could marginally improve the readiness of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for war, they are principally driven by the CCP’s focus on maintaining social stability in a period of economic deceleration and popular unrest. The reappearance of people’s militias under the PAFD during a period of economic difficulty could underscore the legitimacy challenges that Xi Jinping is concerned about, highlighting the close interplay between security concerns and societal stability under his leadership.
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