Thaindian News

Beijing, June 27 (IANS) China’s top legislature Monday started reviewing a draft amendment to the country’s military conscription law for the first time in 13 years with the purpose of recruiting more college students.

The draft amendment submitted to the 11th National People’s Congress standing committee removed an article that stated that full-time students can defer their military service, reported Xinhua.

China should attract more better-educated recruits to its armed forces, according to the draft amendment to the Military Service Law.

It also stated that college graduates recruits with outstanding performance in the army may be directly promoted to active-duty officer posts.

College students enlisted for active service may resume their studies within two years of leaving the military, according to the amendment, which also raises the maximum age for recruitment to 24 years old.

China’s military has featured compulsory service ever since the Military Service Law was passed in 1984.

The law states that Chinese citizens over the age of 18 must serve in the military upon being requested to do so, except for the disabled.

Currently, most of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s new recruits are high school graduates.

Upgraded weapon systems and modern warfare techniques require soldiers with more technological savvy. This has prompted the PLA to seek recruits from the country’s booming population of college graduates.

The military started enlisting college graduates in 2001. By the end of 2009, college graduates accounted for 130,000 of the PLA’s soldiers.