Beijing faces a serious challenge of keeping its military in shape as the youth in the country have shown reluctance to join the defence forces due the concerns related to career growth. financial prospects and the emotional fallout of the demographic crisis. And now serving personnel have expressed their unwillingness todeploy in the cold desert, high-altitude region of Tibet. 

In order to force the youth to join the armed forces, the Communist Party-ruled (CCP) government in China has come up with a draft plan that mandates fundamental military training for them. Yet, the youth in China remain stubborn about their decision. “In the past, no one really paid attention to this; the most you’d get is a phone call from your neighbourhood committee reminding you,” said Beijing-resident Han, who said military service “holds little appeal” among many urban young people.

Government agencies, private institutions, NGOs, schools and colleges were made to urge the youth to join the Chinese armed forces as their obligation in accordance with the law, even as state-run media warned them about negative consequences, such as being barred from education, jobs, if they failed to do so. But experts and observers feel it will have very low impact as the military job neither seemed attractive nor offered better remuneration to the youth.

Recently, a soldier named Huang Moumou refused to serve in Tibet, fearing hardship in the tough terrain. While Moumouwas penalised for his action, the event sparked a huge discussion on social media. “I want to join the army, but I’m afraid of the hardships,” said oneon Weibo, an equivalent of X. A Chinese soldier was seen crying in a purported video shared online while he was posted in a high-altitude zone on the Indian border in 2020.

The youth did not find prospects of promotion and even financial stability if they joined the armed forces,said Yao Cheng, a former Lieutenant Colonel Staff Officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Command. “China's military has not added a penny to its salary for more than two years, but many benefits have been cancelled. The state does not distribute it, and after two years of serving in the army, you still have to find a job,” Cheng said. “Who would want to serve in the military? Future wars are becoming increasingly likely, and (parents) are reluctant to send their children to the battlefield.”