China overhauls military education, modernising troops to be ready to fight

President Xi Jinping approves a new guideline which combines academic, military and vocational training

System is failing to provide combat-ready soldiers that can meet demands of modern PLA, observers say

Reading Time:2 minutes

President Xi Jinping has approved a new military education guideline. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 9:00pm, 21 Oct 2020Updated: 10:00pm, 21 Oct 2020

The People’s Liberation Army is revamping its education system, the latest step in China’s military modernisation drive.

President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Monday approved a military education guideline that outlines the new training system. While details have not been released, the guideline demands a holistic approach, combining academic studies, military and vocational training, to prepare future servicemen and women, according to a Xinhua report.

It is a departure from the previous emphasis on non-combat-related aspects of training such as theoretical and political studies, which was not an effective way to prepare soldiers for a more modern Chinese force, according to Zhou Chenming, a Beijing-based military expert.

“China’s military education system has failed to train personnel for the demands of a modernised force, as some universities are teaching general knowledge without a special focus on the military. So when those soldiers are dispatched to the front line, they need to learn from scratch,” he said.

“Some of the education is too academic – it trains soldiers into scientists who don’t understand the actual needs of the fighting force at present.”

Zhou said the training overhaul was the final step in China’s military modernisation drive.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x