Corporate brigades are being formed in China: China's 'national guard'
For the first time since the 1970s, companies in China have begun forming 'volunteer armies' from their employees. Last year, at least 16 major companies began establishing these units.
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Major Chinese firms have revived the practice of creating 'volunteer-based' military units, a policy that has been implemented in the country in the past. Known as 'People's Armed Forces Departments,' this practice had not been seen in the country since the 1970s.
According to a CNN report based on Chinese state records, these units serve as reserve military forces and consist of workers who continue their daily jobs after receiving basic military training. Their primary function is to support the military as reserve units when needed; they are utilized in integration with the Chinese army for a wide range of tasks, from acting as emergency response units during natural disasters to maintaining social order, and from supporting the military in wartime to providing assistance in military operations when necessary.
The People's Armed Forces Departments share many similarities with the National Guard in the US. However, unlike the practice in the US, China's reserve military units consist of groups organized within companies and factories.
According to reports in the US media, the reason China is reactivating these 'corporate brigades' is due to both the increasing global chaos and the spread of wars, as well as concerns over potential domestic unrest caused by economic problems.
Neil Thomas, a China expert and fellow at the Asia Society, stated that the reason for activating the reserve army is Chinese leader Xi Jinping's desire to increase Communist Party control over the corporate sector and society. Thomas said, "Corporate militias under military leadership could help the Communist Party more effectively suppress social unrest, such as potential consumer protests and employee strikes."
LABOR PROTESTS ARE INCREASING IN CHINA
According to the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin, there were 1,794 labor strikes and protests in China last year. This number was 830 in 2022. About a year ago, employees at the world's largest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou organized large-scale protests and clashed with police.