The People's Armed Police Force, abbreviated PAP, is a Chinese gendarmerie organization primarily responsible for internal security, riot control, counter-terrorism, disaster response, law enforcement and maritime rights protection as well as providing support to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during wartime.
Unlike the civilian People's Police, the PAP is a specialized paramilitary force reporting directly to the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). PAP officers and soldiers wear dark olive green uniforms, different from pine green uniforms of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) or the light blue and black uniforms of the People's Police. Additionally, People's Armed Police police officers are active duty service members and receive veteran's benefits.
The PAP is estimated to have a total strength of 1.5 million. It was established in its current form in 1982, but similar security forces have operated since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. During the Maoist era, the PAP's predecessors were the Chinese People's Public Security Force, initially under the MPS, and later the Public Security Corps which was under the command of the PLA.
History
The history of the People's Armed Police is as long as that of the People's Republic, and its origin can be traced back to the People's Liberation Army, which was responsible for both defending the nation from foreign invasions and maintaining internal security. Although the force was officially established in 1982, its constituent units stretch back to 1949.
People's Public Security Force
In July 1949, the CMC decided to establish the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) with Luo Ruiqing as its minister to organize the public security forces in the nation. In August 1949, several security and public order units of the Fourth Field Army were consolidated into the Central Column of the Chinese People's Public Security Force (PSF) to guard the Party and State leaders and to keep the public order in the capital. The Central Column provided security for the inauguration ceremony of the People's Republic. From December 1949 to May 1950, regional security forces, along with the now dissolved Central Column, had been consolidated into divisions under the PSF.
The PSF was assigned to the PLA and became the PLA Public Security Force in September 1950, and the PLA Public Security Corps in July 1955, reporting under the Central Military Commission of the CCP and the National Defense Council of the People's Republic. Luo Ruiqing was appointed as the commander and political commissar of the PSF in September 1950 and remained on the posts until 1959, retaining the command of the PSF.
As of 1960, the Public Security Corps was organized in 8,200-strong Public Security Divisions, which were deemed not capable of independent, sustained, full-scale combat operations.
People's Armed Police Force
After numerous reorganizations and transfers of control between the PLA and the MPS, the People's Armed Police was created on 19 June 1982, combining the previous armed police, border guards and China Fire Services. The headquarter was set up in the MPS as a subordinate department. The establishment of the PAP highlighted the efforts to increase the professionalization of the security apparatus, as well as the absorption of numerous PLA demobilized personnel, in the wake of growing unrest. The PAP was officially founded on April 5, 1983.
The PAP was led by both the local government and superior PAP forces, which is called "Dual-Leadership" (双重领导). In practice, the local government (including the local party committee, local people's government and the local public security bureau) carries more weight. However, there were many confusions and loopholes caused by this ambiguous organization structure.
In the mid and late 1990s, CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin significantly expanded and strengthened the PAP, with more than 100,000 new troops. Jiang praised the PAP, describing it as "a major force for maintaining state security and social stability, the People's Armed Police shoulders a massive and formidable burden" and deployed it extensively in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Up until 2013, the Border Defense Corps Coast Guard was a part of the PAP. In 2013, it was separated and transferred to the direct control of the Ministry of Public Security and the State Oceanic Administration. However, in March 2018, it was announced that the Coast Guard would be placed under the People's Armed Police Force once again since the State Oceanic Administration was disbanded, but now as an independent branch reporting directly to PAP headquarters.
2017–2018 Reform
Until 31 December 2017, the People's Armed Police had a dual command structure including the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the State Council through the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
Prior to the 2018 reform, the People's Armed Police was further divided into eight corps: Internal Guard, Gold, Forestry, Hydropower, Transportation, Border Defense, Firefighting, and Safeguard Corps. The Internal Guard Corps, which makes up for the bulk of PAP, is under the PAP Headquarters and reports thus to the party central committee and the CMC (Central Military Commission). The Gold, Forestry, Hydropower, and Transportation Corps, collectively known as the Specialist Corps, were by then under the joint leadership of PAP Headquarters and their respective ministries in the State Council. The Border Defense, Firefighting, and Guard Corps, collectively known as the Public Security Corps, were then under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
By law however, the PAP operates separately from the PLA. and, in terms of conducting public security operations and relevant capability building, the PAP Headquarters is under the leadership and command of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
From 1 January 2018, command of the People's Armed Police is jointly held by the CCP central committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC), with the PAP no longer subordinate to the State Council.
The reform was reportedly carried out in order to deprive the local Chinese Communist Party authorities of the power to use the PAP units to commit abuses or against the leadership in Beijing, especially after the Wang Lijun incident in which the PAP was allegedly abused by provincial party secretary Bo Xilai to surround the US Consulate in Chongqing after a falling out with Wang, the police chief of Chongqing at the time. Under the 2018 reforms, local authorities now need central approval in order to deploy the PAP.
On 10 January 2018, the PAP received a new flag following the design of the branch flags of the PLA with three olive stripes at the bottom. The three olive stripes represents the People's Armed Police responsible for the three main tasks and force composition of maintaining national political security and social stability, maritime rights protection and law enforcement, and defense operations.
On 21 March 2018, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party unveiled a reform plan for the People's Armed Police Force as part of the deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions. Under this plan, the non-combatant elements of the PAP, the Gold, Forestry, Hydropower, Border Defense, Firefighting, and Guard Corps, are to be removed and the CCG is to be consolidated with PAP. As of March 2018, the PAP is working with the Central Committee and the relevant organs for the transfer of non-combatant elements into civil service. The Transportation Corps is the only remaining component of the Specialist Corps.
Until 2018, the Specialist Corps were responsible in constructing and maintaining highways and roads, surveying mineral deposits, fighting forest fires, and constructing large scale waterworks like dams and levees as well as for water works maintenance. The PAP is also called upon in emergency rescue and disaster relief operations within the PRC via the specialist and public security forces which can be forward deployed during such operations.
Organizational changes
With the 2018 reforms, Specialist Corps other than the Transportation Corps have been placed under other ministries. China Coast Guard (CCG) was transferred from State Council to PAP command, and the Transportation Corps has some units under the Mobile Corps.
The Border Defense Corps and Guards Corps have been absorbed by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The Forestry Corps were merged with the China Fire Services (also known as the firefighting corps) of the MPS and reorganized as China Fire and Rescue (CF&R), it was placed under the Ministry of Emergency Management. The Gold Corps and Hydropower Corps have been transformed into state-owned enterprises under the supervision of the relevant State Council ministries (Ministry of Natural Resources and China National Gold Group Corporation and China Aneng Construction Corporation, respectively).
Chronology
From the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the paramilitary public security force has been reorganized numerous times. The current designation since 1982, the People's Armed Police, was first used between 1959 and 1963.
1949–1950: Chinese People's Public Security Force, under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS)
1950–1955: Public Security Force, under the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
1955–1959: Public Security Corps, under the PLA
1959–1963: People's Armed Police, under the joint leadership of the MPS and the PLA
1963–1966: Chinese People's Public Security Force, under the joint leadership of the MPS and the PLA
1966–1982: PLA Internal Guard, absorbed into the PLA in an integrated structure. In 1971 and 1973, some units were transferred to the MPS
1982–present: People's Armed Police (PAP)
Mission and operations
The People's Armed Police is formally regulated by the People's Armed Police Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国人民武装警察法), adopted and effective since 27 August 2009.
The People's Armed Police's primary mission is internal security. The Law on the People's Armed Police Force (PAPF), passed in August 2009, giving it statutory authority to respond to riots, terrorist attacks or other emergencies. Such units guard government buildings at all levels (including party and state organizations, foreign embassies and consulates), provide security to public corporations and major public events, as well as counter-terrorism and handling of public emergencies. Some units guard civilian prisons and provide executioners for the state. The PAP also maintains tactical counter-terrorism (CT) units such as the Snow Wolf Commando Unit and various Special Operations/Police units.
In the Chinese policing system, the PAP is tasked with managing protests (otherwise referred to as "mass incidents") and protecting important facilities and events, while public security police investigates crime and maintain public order. The PAP assists the regular police in high-risk operations, set up roadblocks and protects crime scenes. It also conducts preventive patrol under the leadership of the public security bureaus, sometimes in conjunction with them. When dealing with mass incidents and armed offenders, responsibility shifts to the People's Armed Police.
The PAP maintains units tasked with responding to any possible armed mutinies by PLA soldiers. In wartime deployments the PAP can assist the Ground Force and the Navy.
International operations
While the People's Armed Police is principally charged with internal security and guarding key facilities and installations, it also operates as part of the international security efforts of the People's Republic of China, against both terrorism and organized crime. Mathieu Duchâtel for The National Bureau of Asian Research identifies the legal basis of the PAP missions abroad in Article 71 of the 2015 Counter-terrorism Law. According Armed Police Force University professor Zhou Jian, counterterrorism is a task provided by law for the People's Armed Police and operating missions abroad is an "irreplaceable means".
The People's Armed Police send personnel abroad to receive training or provide training and participates in counter-terrorism exercises, especially across Central Asia in bilateral and multilateral agreements. PAP special operations forces are also deployed in the Chinese embassies of Baghdad and Kabul for the purposes of protection of diplomatic staff and property.
Since 2011, the People's Armed Police has also conducted operations along the Mekong river with the security forces of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. These operations are aimed against organized crime.
Since 2014, the People's Republic of China established a security cooperation with Tajikistan and Afghanistan on Afghan border, near the Wakhan Corridor and in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The People's Armed Police is the main force for both bilateral and trilateral counterterrorism operations (mainly reconnaissance patrols in remote areas), being deployed south of Shaymak; the PAP has also conducted training for Tajik security forces.
The Border Defense Corps has also been deployed in UN Peacekeeping operations. Between 2006 and 2018, the Border Defense Corps was deployed in peacekeeping 10 times, with a total of 1325 officers being deployed for peacekeeping. This includes MINUSTAH, where out of eight Chinese peacekeeping deaths in the 2010 Haiti Earthquake three were Border Defense Corps officers. The Border Defense Corps was also deployed in UNMIL, where on October 28, 2017, where the 5th PAP Deployment to Liberia (part of the Guangxi Border Defense Corps) was awarded the "Liberia National Outstanding Contribution Award" by the Liberian Government.
Comparisons to foreign agencies
The PAP has been compared by both Chinese and foreign scholars with the gendarmerie forces found in many countries, most famously the French Gendarmerie, but the main inspiration for the PAP's establishment and operation came from the Internal Troops of the Soviet Union and related paramilitary forces of the Eastern Bloc such as the East German Alert Units, adapted to the specific military-political culture and thinking of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership. It has also sometimes been compared by Chinese media to the US National Guard.
Leadership
Commander:
Political Commissar:
Training
The People's Armed Police has a number of training institutions, likely overseen by the Training Bureau of the Staff Department.
Engineering University of People's Armed Police (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
People's Armed Police Command Academy (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
Officers college of People's Armed Police (Deputy Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
People's Armed Police Special Police Academy (Deputy Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
China Coast Guard Academy
Non-commissioned Officer School of the People's Armed Police