Non-combat Chinese Troops Demobilized As Part of Military Reform

China is demobilizing thousands of soldiers and officers and is deploying hundreds of troops to the border regions as part of the military reform, local media reports.

The 81th Army Group of the PLA's Central Theater Command, based in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei Province, said that "military officers and soldiers responded shortly after receiving the order… more than 10,000 moved to other stations, thousands were demobilized; and hundreds were assigned to visit the border regions," according to a video shown on tv.81.cn, a television station affiliated with the PLA.

The demobilizing of the non-combat personnel was completed by the end of February, marking the first provincial military command to accomplish the goal in the year.

The military reform is aimed at removing outmoded armed forces and administrative offices, and downsizing non-combat personnel to improve the military structure and realize rational allocation, Xu Guangyu, a retired major general, told the Global Times.

China unveiled a plan to restructure the government on Tuesday, and plans to set up a new ministry devoted to veterans' affairs.

The move is meant to protect the legitimate rights and interests of military personnel and their families, improve the service and management system of demobilized military personnel, and make military service an occupation that enjoys public respect, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.