On September 13, the newly revised “National Defense Education Law of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国防教育法, hereinafter the “National Defense Education Law”) was passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s top legislature, and came into effect on 21 Sept. 2024.
The National Defense Education Law was enacted in 2001 and last amended in 2018.
The revised National Defense Education Law requires that national defense education in schools be integrated with the publicity and education of military service so as to enhance students’ awareness of performing military service in accordance with the law.
The PRC Military Service Law (2021 Revision) provided for military service publicity and education and relaxed the age limit for enlistment to 24 for graduates of regular higher education institutions, and to 26 for postgraduate students. As university students now make up the majority of new recruits, the updated National Defense Education Law is designed to align with the Military Service Law in terms of educational requirements.
Additionally, the National Defense Education Law requires regular higher education institutions and high schools to improve military skills training based on the students’ military education curriculum.
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
