Chinese Militia and its state of readiness

rhino123

Pencil Pusher
VIP Professional
I think the militia is a forgotten group of people in the Chinese military, they have limited training and is actually not very skillful but they did and will play an important part of the Chinese defence.

There are around 10 million strong militia in China, that is quite a massive amount of manpower, however I am wondering what is the state of readiness for these militia?

In time of war, how long will it take to arm these men and march them into the hot zone? And is it possible to arm all of them? As mentioned, they have 10 million men, and it would not be easy to equip every single one of them with weapon. I am wondering how is China going to support this troops?

Any thoughts guys?
 

vesicles

Colonel
I think the militia is a forgotten group of people in the Chinese military, they have limited training and is actually not very skillful but they did and will play an important part of the Chinese defence.

There are around 10 million strong militia in China, that is quite a massive amount of manpower, however I am wondering what is the state of readiness for these militia?

In time of war, how long will it take to arm these men and march them into the hot zone? And is it possible to arm all of them? As mentioned, they have 10 million men, and it would not be easy to equip every single one of them with weapon. I am wondering how is China going to support this troops?

Any thoughts guys?

IMO, China would rather not use these militia at all. At the moment, it's for show, just like in the parade. If they have to resort to militia, that means their normal defence is complete gone and China would have been occupied already. Then I would imagine they would go back to the old style, which means guerrilla warfare. And militia would become the backbone for this new type of fighting since they at least have SOME training and know how to shoot a gun. Even these men are not armed at the beginning, they can find weapons from the enemy, like in the WWII.
 

EdT586

Junior Member
The Militia is only a show piece !, the real Militia is each and every child, woman and man that is not in the PLA or PAP !

Every child since the age of 4 has been indoctrinated to defend the Motherland since 1949, the words are in the National Anthem and every song they sing in school ! Patriotism and Nationalism is part of their DNA !
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pla101prc

Senior Member
The Militia is only a show piece !, the real Militia is each and every child, woman and man that is not in the PLA or PAP !

Every child since the age of 4 has been indoctrinated to defend the Motherland since 1949, the words are in the National Anthem and every song they sing in school ! Patriotism and Nationalism is part of their DNA !
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interesting article there, my grandfather was attacked ruthlessly by the red guard during the cultural revolution, as are the grandparents of many of my peers in China, yet few seem to hold a grudge against Chairman Mao. he is prolly still the second most popular leader in China
 

RedMercury

Junior Member
Just a slight bit of exaggeration, no? There are plenty of after 80 and after 90 kids who care for nothing but hedonism.
 

rhino123

Pencil Pusher
VIP Professional
Lets get back to the topic. We do not want this thread to stray from what I originally intented.

Now let us look into the training that the militia have and let us take the 10 million figure as something real and not show piece as was pointed out by some of the members here. And frankly the patriotism, 4 year old kids kind of thing is not what I am asking or what I have in mind for this discussion.

Lets get back again to the readiness of the militia, I shall start again with more question:

1) Type of training they receive,
2) Frequency of that training,
3) Type of equipment they are armed,
 

august1

New Member
that article is kinda BS to me. If it werent for the fact that Im Chinese and also currently living in China, I'd end up thinking of China and its people as some monolithic entity with little room for individuality.

"However, I have been able to break through that ‘wall’..."

The only wall the author has fooled himself into believing he has broken is the one that separates himself as a self-righteous foreigner with limited Chinese language and cultural understanding/immersion and the vast majority of China which does not think of their country using the Orientalist hyperbole that the author litters across this article - "worship", "unwavering allegiance", "almost tangible" (wtf does this mean?).

When I speak to Chinese people about China much of it is moaning and piss-taking. When this wannabe Orientalist speaks to Chinese people about China every word confirms his reductive and ignorant ideas about China that already existed in his mind and in the institution to which he belongs.
 

rhino123

Pencil Pusher
VIP Professional
that article is kinda BS to me. If it werent for the fact that Im Chinese and also currently living in China, I'd end up thinking of China and its people as some monolithic entity with little room for individuality.

"However, I have been able to break through that ‘wall’..."

The only wall the author has fooled himself into believing he has broken is the one that separates himself as a self-righteous foreigner with limited Chinese language and cultural understanding/immersion and the vast majority of China which does not think of their country using the Orientalist hyperbole that the author litters across this article - "worship", "unwavering allegiance", "almost tangible" (wtf does this mean?).

When I speak to Chinese people about China much of it is moaning and piss-taking. When this wannabe Orientalist speaks to Chinese people about China every word confirms his reductive and ignorant ideas about China that already existed in his mind and in the institution to which he belongs.

My friend.... can we please get back to the thread? and not dwell any further into that article that some person posted on the thread before this thing turns ugly and the mod decided to close this perfectly good discussion.

The discussion here is on the state of readiness for the militia and not some moronic discussion on national pride and DNA and some four years old kid. When there is a war, the planner need to know the state of readiness for all of his or her troops and not some 'ideal' that all men and women in China is the militia. That do not happen even in WWII, although Mao always says its the people's war, but in actual fact, and I mean, real fact, strategists and planners need to know exactly what are the numbers, the state of readiness the equipment, and things like that to plan and execute their tactics in order to defeat the country's enemy.

So please.... people, let us forget that 'article' and get back to the discussion here. Thanks a million.
 

SampanViking

The Capitalist
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
Good Call Rhino

I can only hazard a guess about the role of the Militia, but in the modern age, I would assume that they would be used in largely rear and non combat roles to release front line units for combat duty. They could also help/augment PAP and ordinary Police.

Remember that a more sophisticated military machine needs ever more backroom boys to keep it moving and this seems the ideal militia role. They are however basically trained and can be mobilised relatively quickly.
So any or all of the following as examples:

Logistics, both supply and transport.
Performing Garrison duties in rear positions
Manning Check Points
General Observation
Extra Air Defence
Clerical Duties
Medical Orderlies
Assistants to Senior Officers

I am sure others can think of many other similar duties.
 

ABC78

Junior Member
Well only things I've heard about the militia is they have done very few joint training missions with the PLA regulars. Most of the units are rear area support, air defence primarily AA guns and last resort infantry after the PAP. More or less their a reserve force to deffend against attacks and invasion of the homeland

Here's a presentation that mentions some of what the militia does and their status.

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Hope it helps.
 
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