"You made them Strong, we'll make them PLA Strong."

[Lonestar]

From Early Bird

Washington Post
December 17, 2007
Pg. 1

China Scouts Colleges To Fill Ranks Of Modern Army

By Maureen Fan, Washington Post Foreign Service

BEIJING -- The fliers circulating last month on the campuses of China's most prestigious universities showed three soldiers positioned against a Chinese flag and an appeal that read in part: "Carry Your Pen to the Army to Become More Accomplished."

In ancient times, the phrase was "Throw Away Your Pen and Join the Army," a challenge to China's intellectuals to stop wasting time and help defend the country. Now, the People's Liberation Army is recruiting college students in an ambitious modernization program designed to attract smart soldiers who can handle sophisticated equipment and transform the 2.3 million-strong force into a high-tech adversary.

"With the rise of China, China needs a powerful army," said Tan Zhenwen, a junior at Tsinghua University in Beijing who recently headed to Guangdong province to join the South China Sea Fleet. " . . . I don't worry about the low social status of soldiers. With more and more college students joining the army, the situation is changing and getting better."

While China's rising diplomatic power has helped fuel a desire for a more professional army, military commanders also need highly educated soldiers to maintain the "information-based" military power that has become increasingly important -- both internationally and as a means to dissuade Taiwan from declaring independence.

Domestically, the army already has come a long way. A military that 18 years ago was most readily associated with the shooting of protesters in Tiananmen Square is increasingly helping in relief efforts after floods and other natural disasters. The army has also been the driving force behind recent achievements in space exploration.

In a speech in August marking the 80th anniversary of the army, President Hu Jintao called for accelerated modernization of weapons and equipment, enhanced personnel training and strengthening of combat capabilities through technology.

One of the most important aspects of the modernization is a huge effort to shed the impoverished farmhands who have traditionally signed on as a way to ensure three solid meals a day. The once-bloated force had 4.2 million people two decades ago but has gradually reduced its infantry. It has, however, increased the number of personnel who serve in the navy, air force and Second Artillery Corps, which maintains China's nuclear missiles.

The army now advertises itself as an opportunity for young people to acquire technical skills and experience not easily attained in the private sector. This year, for the first time, the army took out full-page advertisements in newspapers. The ads featured an astronaut, a naval college professor and Peking University's first recruit since its students began signing up in 2005.

Six years ago, 26 universities produced roughly 1,400 army recruits through a special government program similar to the U.S. military's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC. This year, the program has grown to include 110 universities, and officials hope to recruit 11,000 students, including some majoring in philosophy, law and medicine.

"Compared with the private sector, army salaries are not very high. But in recent years, the army has increased the salary for soldiers and officers," said Li Shengqiang, an officer at the army's Beijing Recruitment Office. "Because the army is trying to equip itself with advanced weapons and equipment, the quality and knowledge of soldiers has become correspondingly higher. . . . In the 1980s, primary school graduates could join the army. But now, no way."

Recruits are lured by financial incentives and programs that allow students to return to university after two years in the army with preferential standing for graduate school. Officials have introduced psychological tests to weed out unsuitable candidates and imposed penalties for ineligible applicants who try to bribe their way in. Also this year, for the first time candidates who want to be air force pilots must pass a language test in English or Russian.

Undergraduates from outside Beijing may be offered Beijing residency, an important perk, in exchange for two years of service, according to a proposal now under discussion, said another recruitment official who spoke on condition of anonymity because a decision has not been announced.

For Zhou Hao, 20, a third-year journalism student at Tsinghua University, joining the army had been a childhood dream. He was unaware that university students were eligible until he spotted a recruitment poster and discovered financial rewards for signing up. Last week he headed off to join the Second Artillery Group in Chuxiong city, Yunnan province.

"I prefer to work for the government after I graduate, and I think my experience in the army will help me to get a position," Zhou said. "I don't think I really give up anything for the army. But one thing is that more eyes will look at you. So, there must be more pressure, which will force me to do my best."

China's growing military budget has generated intense debate in Washington, where some analysts believe China's defense spending is much higher than the $45.3 billion officially earmarked.

Whatever the amount, one Beijing-based military expert added that some of that money is going toward China's military education system.

"We didn't use all those funds just for missiles or defense" but also for "better welfare" for troops, the expert said, noting that more than $1 million has been spent recently on uniforms.

"Maybe five years ago IBM had the most advantage. Most students wouldn't have joined the army. But now the situation is different," he said. "The army now offers higher salaries, higher status than before and more opportunities for advancement. If you wore the uniform before, maybe you couldn't get a girlfriend. Now, even that's different."

In addition, with an increasingly competitive job market, a growing number of college graduates are finding it difficult to secure a stable job with a good salary. Many are beginning to think two years of army experience will give them advantages over other candidates. Others worry that their lives are too comfortable and that they're unprepared for the world.

"Most young people my age have only focused on their studies since childhood. We are relatively delicate and fragile," said Jia Na, 21, a journalism student at Tsinghua University. "When you enter society, there are even bigger hardships. If I join the army and experience hardship, I will be well-prepared to face challenges in society."

Jia, from Shanxi province, is the first from her peasant family to attend university. She signed up after speaking with another Tsinghua student who had returned to campus after two years in the army.

"A teacher who knew him before said he had changed a lot in two years. I found his attitude to be serious and precise and his stories about the army impressed me," Jia said. "He said the labor in the last two years was more than all the work he'd done in his first 18 years of life."

Last week she packed her bags and headed for an East China Sea Fleet base in Zhejiang province, taking jeans, a sweater and a few books. She left behind her makeup, most of her clothes, her computer and her MP3 player.

Researcher Zhang Jie contributed to this report.

Obviously, the same recruitment execs that work for the US Army work for the PLA, judging from the financial incentives/"make a man out of you" comments in the article.

[Andrew_Fireborn]

Obviously, the same recruitment execs that work for the US Army work for the PLA, judging from the financial incentives/"make a man out of you" comments in the article.

Of course. Culture arose from basic human needs and desires.

Though it's modern iterations define the specifics of the more superfluous ones, the basics are still there. Find the ability to survive, then prove one's worthiness to procreate.

[PeZook]

Obviously, the same recruitment execs that work for the US Army work for the PLA, judging from the financial incentives/"make a man out of you" comments in the article.

What's so strange about it? That's what being a warrior was all about in ancient societies, and we haven't outgrown it yet - probably never will, to be honest.

[hongi]

Good on them, it'll help when the aliens invade.

Obviously, the same recruitment execs that work for the US Army work for the PLA, judging from the financial incentives/"make a man out of you" comments in the article.

I find it interesting that China is not advertising patriotism as a reason for joining up, although you'd almost expect the PLA to take that approach what with China rising in power.

[Phantasee]

Good on them, it'll help when the aliens invade.

Obviously, the same recruitment execs that work for the US Army work for the PLA, judging from the financial incentives/"make a man out of you" comments in the article.

I find it interesting that China is not advertising patriotism as a reason for joining up, although you'd almost expect the PLA to take that approach what with China rising in power.

Appealing to people's nationalistic feelings will pull in different kinds of people than going for educated people.

[Sidewinder]

The fliers circulating last month on the campuses of China's most prestigious universities showed three soldiers positioned against a Chinese flag and an appeal that read in part: "Carry Your Pen to the Army to Become More Accomplished."

In ancient times, the phrase was "Throw Away Your Pen and Join the Army," a challenge to China's intellectuals to stop wasting time and help defend the country.

Considering the chaos spawned when uneducated hacks in uniform tried to run China-- see the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution-- this change in attitude is WAY overdue.

[K. A. Pital]

Considering the chaos spawned when uneducated hacks in uniform tried to run China-- see the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution-- this change in attitude is WAY overdue.

The Red Guard single-handedly destroyed the country's local governments, and the economy, made the government lose control over the country and only barely remain in control over the army, and it utterly destroyed a very large fraction of educational facilities and education specialists. The consequences of the Cultural Revolution for the qualification of Chinese government officials must have been truly horrendous.

[Chris OFarrell]

Yes. All hail the Great Leap forward...into a snake filled, stake lined pit...