News Analysis
When the Chinese military marched through Beijing in September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the spectacle appeared to project discipline, power, and loyalty—core images that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to associate with its armed forces.
However, beneath the polished facade, morale in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is strained, according to current and former service members, veterans’ advocates, and analysts who recently spoke with the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. They cite economic pressures, uncertainty about post-military life, and corruption within the PLA as key factors.
Economic Pressures Drive Many Recruits
For much of the Mao Zedong era (1949–1976)—and especially during the Cultural Revolution—joining the military was one of the few ways rural Chinese youths could change their lives. That appeal has steadily eroded since the late 1970s, as market reforms expanded civilian opportunities. Furthermore, observers say that the former one-child policy further complicated military life, as long deployments left aging parents without caregivers….
Behind China’s Military Parades, Soldiers Face Corruption and Uncertain Futures
