Veterans in the People’s Republic of China

In the wake of the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the former USSR, as well as the domestic challenges posed by the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, the Chinese Communist Party actively sought to restructure the foundations of its claim to legitimacy.  Economic development and improved living standard was the most critical part of this. At the same time, however, the CCP attempted to burnish its “nationalist” credentials by focusing citizens’ attention (in “Patriotic Education Campaigns”) on the heroics and victories of the People’s Liberation Army, particularly during the wars against Japan (1937-1945), the Nationalist Party (1946-1949), and the United States during the Korean War (1950-3).

In contrast to the state’s narrative of military heroism and rewarded sacrifice, recently declassified archival documents suggest an altogether different story, one that dovetails far more closely with the comparative history of demobilizations, particularly in poor countries.  Along multiple dimensions and with few exceptions (mainly based on rank and education) Chinese veterans faced widespread and persistent discrimination.    There is no Chinese equivalent of the Soviet SKVV, and they never enjoyed a golden age of recognition.

These problems notwithstanding, Chinese veterans have been politically active. Veterans have engaged in many forms of protest, including strikes, open letters to high officials, and ad-hoc commemorative memorials.  The efficacy of these actions, however, is difficult to discern. From the early years of the PRC until today, veterans have not enjoyed a “support structure” in Chinese society that would help them in their post-war battles for residence rights, employment, medical care and status.  There is little evidence suggesting that the massive “nationalist” propaganda campaigns filtered down and improve the way veterans interact with state and society.