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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Conflict & Security

China’s Revised Defense Mobilization Law Prepares for War, Taiwanese Official Says

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources New plan
  • China will implement its first major revision of the Defense Mobilization Law since 2010 on October 1.
  • The revised law allows authorities to rapidly convert personnel, transport, communications, energy, medical services and media into wartime resources after mobilization is declared.
  • A Taiwanese official said the changes reflect preparations for war and urged Taiwan and democratic partners to monitor how China applies the law.

China’s revised Defense Mobilization Law has prompted concern in Taiwan because it defines national defense mobilization as a response to threats to sovereignty, unification, territorial integrity, security and development interests. The law is due to take effect on October 1, marking the first major revision since it was introduced in 2010.

The changes are designed to support a rapid shift from peacetime to wartime. Once the Chinese Communist Party declares a defense mobilization state, authorities could convert personnel, transportation, communications, energy, medical services and media into tightly controlled wartime resources.

attack resilience

— Taiwanese officialThe official contrasted Taiwan’s defensive resilience with China’s preparations to sustain offensive operations.

The law also gives China’s State Council and Central Military Commission responsibility for determining the size, types and methods of reserve troop storage. Men aged 18 to 60 and women aged 18 to 55 would have legal national defense service obligations, while reservists would be required to undergo training.

concentrate strength to accomplish great things

— Taiwanese officialThe official described how China is putting national mobilization measures into law.

A Taiwanese official familiar with cross-strait affairs said the revision represents war-preparation measures. The official argued that no country is preparing to invade China and that the initiative instead reflects Xi Jinping’s determination to complete what Beijing calls the historic mission of national unification. Taiwan, the official said, focuses on whole-of-society defense resilience, while China is building what the official called “attack resilience.”

The official urged Taiwan and democratic partner countries to pay close attention to China’s next steps, especially how Beijing would carry out wartime mobilization. The official also criticized China’s political system and warned that nationalist fervor could turn preparations to “concentrate strength to accomplish great things” into “concentrate strength to do foolish things.” The comments linked the law to wider concerns over China’s military posture and its effect on global and regional security.

concentrate strength to do foolish things

— Taiwanese officialThe official warned that nationalist fervor could turn China’s mobilization drive toward reckless action.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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