Bye-bye, Comrade in Arms: China closes military newspapers as part of reform cutbacks
The move is part of plans to cut 300,000 personnel from 2.3 million-strong armed forces
So long, People’s Frontline. Farewell, Comrade in Arms.
China’s armed forces have shut down newspapers published by the country’s seven military regions as part of a plan to downsize and streamline the world’s largest standing military.
The papers, also including War Flag, Vanguard and People’s Armed Forces, have been gradually superseded by official news and propaganda television and websites for soldiers whose access to the internet and smartphones is restricted.
READ MORE: China’s PLA reforms slash political posts as part of a 300,000 cut in non-combat personnel by 2017
The People’s Liberation Army Daily said the publications had ceased publishing last week. The oldest, Soldiers News, dated from 1930.
The closures leave the PLA Daily, and its affiliated China Defence Newspaper as the military’s two remaining daily publications, although state broadcaster CCTV also devotes an entire channel to the armed forces staffed by uniformed officers.
China is in the process of cutting 300,000 personnel from the 2.3 million-member military, reorganising its command structure and jettisoning non-essential functions such as arts troupes.
The reforms also aim to strengthen the party’s ultimate control over the military, preventing any attempts to make it loyal instead to the people and nation rather than the ruling party.
They also come as China has become more assertive in pressing its claims to territory in the East China Sea and South China Sea, increasing tensions with its neighbours.