People's Armed Police - Introduction
Last updated: 27 June 2008
The Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP) is a paramilitary force responsible for internal security within the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In time of war, the PAP could also be used as light infantry to support the regular ground forces. According to the constitution of the PRC, the PAP is one the three integral elements of the Chinese armed forces, along with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the militia/reserve forces. The China’s National Defence White Paper published in 2006 claimed that the total strength of the PAP was 660,000 people, much less than the previously estimated figure of one million. However, the official figure may have excluded the specialised branches of the PAP that are not directly involved in military-related activities.
Although the PAP only had a history of over two decades, similar forces were established as early as 1949 in the form of “People’s Public Security Force”, and later “People’s Public Security Army”. In 1955 the People’s Public Security Army was absorbed by the PLA to become the PLA Public Security Force. During the Culture Revolution in 1966, the PLA Public Security Force was disbanded and their internal security and border guard functions were taken over by the PLA and militia units.
In early 1980s, the Chinese leadership decided to re-establish a dedicated force for internal security duties. The PAP was formed by merging internal security forces under several different organisations, including the PLA ground forces units responsible for guarding government buildings and key installations; the Armed Police Force, Border Defence Police Force, and Firing Fighting Force under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Sizable numbers of demobilised PLA personnel have also been absorbed by the PAP since the mid-1980s.
The newly established PAP was placed under a unique ‘dual leadership’ system, with the Central Military Commission (CMC) and local public security bureaus sharing the responsibility of administrative management and command of its troops. The funding of the PAP was allocated from the central and local government budget instead of the country’s defence budget. A significant change in the leadership system of the PAP came in 1993, when previously very much localised leadership system of the PAP was centralised and militarised to strengthen the CMC’s control over the PAP.
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PAP officers in the Type 07 summer service uniform (Chinese Internet) |
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Lineage
- People's Public Security Corps (October 1949~September 1950)
- People's Liberation Army Public Security Corps (September 1950~July 1955)
- People's Liberation Army Public Security Force (July 1955~August 1957)
- People's Liberation Army Public Security Corps (September 1957~December 1958)
- People's Armed Police (January 1959~January 1963)
- People's Public Security Corps (February 1963~June 1966)
- Absorbed by the People's Liberation Army (July 1966~June 1982)
- People's Armed Police (June 1982~Present)
Missions
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PAP officers in the Type 07 spring/autumn service uniform (Chinese Internet) |
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According to the Chinese constitution, the PAP’s main responsibilities include: to protect the state’s security, to maintain society’s stability, and to secure the peaceful living of the citizens. In peacetime the PAP is responsible for three types of missions:
Guarding Key Targets – The PAP is responsible for the protection of a range of key targets, including country leaders and state guests; government and party buildings; important national and international conference, summits and other events; prisons and detention centres; large airports, radio stations, and other key economic and industrial establishments; bridge and tunnels on national railways and motorways. The PAP also frequently perform armed patrol in large cities and special regions.
Dealing with Emergency Crisis – The PAP is responsible for responding to various emergency and crisis situations, including riots, insurgents, and other mass incidents.
Anti-Terrorism – The PAP is responsible for anti-terrorism attacks, anti-hijacking and bomb disposal.
Assisting with Country’s Economic Development – The PAP is engaged in a range of economic activities, including gold finding and mining, forest fire-fighting, and taking part in large transportation and energy construction projects. The PAP would also take part in disaster relief operations such as flooding.
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PAP servicemen in the combat uniform (Chinese Internet) |
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Organisational Structure
Currently the PAP is organised into eight branches in three categories:
The Internal Guard Troops is the largest element of the PAP, consisting of provincial general corps, municipal general corps, and mobile divisions, all subordinated to the PAP headquarters and local governments.
The Border Defence Troops, Fire-Fighting Troops, and Guard Troops are part of police forces but are manned by PAP personnel. They are subordinated to the Ministry of Public Security and local Public Security Agencies.
The Hydropower Troops, Gold Mine Troops, Transportation Troops, and Forestry Troops are specialised service arms directly led by the PAP headquarters through the command headquarters of each corps.
The PAP is organised along standard military lines with its ranks and organisational structures mirroring those of the PLA. There is a national headquarters in Beijing and provincial and municipal headquarters through out the country. The national headquarters is equivalent to a PLA military region in the administrative hierarchy. The headquarters consists of four departments: command, political, logistic and equipment. There are also four specialised command headquarters subordinated to the PAP headquarters: gold, hydropower, transportation, and forestry, which are in charge of the PAP’s four specialised service arms respectively.
Like the regular army, the PAP force is composed of mostly conscripts, who were obliged to serve for a minimum of two years.
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