The Chinese government is working on changes to the National Defence Education Law that would make military training mandatory starting in high school.
Defense World reports that the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is reviewing the proposed changes to the law.
The arguments behind the changes are that this will increase teenagers' awareness of national defence matters and prepare them for future challenges. It is also stated that this will influence the students to have more discipline and teamwork skills.
Against these, both internally and externally, some concerns have been brought up, including impacts on academic success and limited critical thinking.
One factor behind this proposal can be China’s tensions with its neighbours, including Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, with the involvement of the U.S. in some cases.
China Proposes Mandatory Military Training for Teenagers
