Chinese President Xi Jinping approved a set of regulations on non-military military operations. They go into effect Wednesday, June 15th. According to the Chinese edition of Huanqiu Shibao, now the People’s Liberation Army of China will have to “protect the state’s national sovereignty, provide assistance in the event of cataclysms and natural disasters, maintain peace in the country and conduct humanitarian operations” in non-war time.
In addition, the function of the military will include the protection of infrastructure facilities, such as pipelines.
Another edition of Global Times notes that this decision plays an important role in determining the functions of the Chinese military in a changed era. According to the expert, the PRC leadership seeks to “neutralize existing risks” and provide “a legal basis for actions in the name of national interests.”
Previously, the Chinese military has already been involved in eliminating the threat to civilians, in particular, to combat the coronavirus pandemic and eliminate the consequences of earthquakes. In addition, the Chinese military began to escort civilian ships to prevent pirate attacks in the African region.
The Global Times notes that the participation of the Chinese army in operations outside the country is also allowed in order to prevent risks that, in an unfavorable development of events, might spread to China itself.