People's Armed Police

In July 1949, the Central Military Commission decided to establish the Ministry of Public Security with Luo Ruiqing as its minister to organize the public security forces in the nation.[4] 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.[4] The Central Column provided security for the inauguration ceremony of the People's Republic.[4] From December 1949 to May 1950, regional security forces, along with the now dissolved Central Column, had been consolidated into divisions under the PSF.[4]

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 CPC and the National Defense Council of the People's Republic.[4][1] 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.[4][10]

As of 1960, the Public Security Corps was organised in 8,200-strong Public Security Divisions, which were deemed not capable of independent, sustained, full-scale combat operations.[11]

After numerous reorganizations and transfers of control between the PLA and the Ministry of Public Security, the People's Armed Police was created on 19 June 1982.[4] 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,[12]^:228–229 in the wake of growing unrest.[12]^:229

In the mid and late 1990s, Communist Party general secretary Jiang Zemin significantly expanded and strengthened the PAP, with more than 100,000 new troops.[13] 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.[13]

Up until 2013, the China Coast Guard was a part of the PAP, but it was separated, since then it reported directly to the Ministry of Public Security and the State Oceanic Administration. However, in March 2018, it has been announced that the Coast Guard shall be placed under the People's Armed Police Force once again as the State Oceanic Administration has been disbanded, but this time as an independent branch reporting directly to PAP headquarters.[14]

Wheeled APC (WZ-551) of the People's Armed Police

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.[15]^:18

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.[12]^:232 The Internal Guard Corps, which makes up for the bulk of PAP, is under the PAP Headquarters and reports thus to the Party CC and the CMCs. 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.[12]^:232 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.[12]^:232

By law however, the PAP operates separately from the PLA.[15]^:18 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.

From 1 January 2018, command of the People's Armed Police is jointly held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission, with the PAP no longer subordinate to the State Council.[16]

The reform was reportedly carried out in order to deprive the local Party authorities of the power to use the PAP units to commit abuses or even against the leadership in Beijing. With the new organization, local authorities need central approval in order to deploy the PAP.[17]

On 21 March 2018, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China unveiled a reform plan for the People's Armed Police Force.[18] 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 China Coast Guard is to be consolidated with PAP.[19] 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.[19] 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 [20] waterworks like dams and levees as well as for water works maintenance.[21] 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.[21]

With the 2018 reforms, Specialist Corps other than the Transportation Corps have been placed under other ministries. The China Coast Guard has been transferred from State Council to PAP command, and the Transportation Corps has some units under the Mobile Contingents.[20]^:15

The Border Defense Corps and Guards Corps have been absorbed by the Ministry of Public Security. The Firefighting Corps and Forestry Corps are 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).[20]^:15

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.[1][22]

• 1949–1950: Chinese People's Public Security Force, under the Ministry of Public Security
• 1950–1955: Public Security Force, under the People's Liberation Army
• 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

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 Counterrorism 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”.[26]^:14–15

The People's Armed Police sent personnel abroad to receive training or provide training and participates in counter-terrorism exercises, especially across Central Asia in bilateral and multilateral agreements.[26]^:65 [27]^:26 [28] PAP special operations forces are also deployed in Baghdad and Kabul for embassy protection duties.[26]^:15

Starting in 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 tool for both bilateral and trilateral counterterrorism operations (mainly reconnaissance patrols in remote areas), being deployed south of Shaymak; the PAP also conducts training for Tajik security appparatus.[26]^:13,84–87

The People's Armed Police has also conducted, since 2011, operations along the Mekong river with the security forces of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. These operations are aimed against organized crime.[26]^:13

The People's Armed Police Academy tasked with officer education and training for duties related to the missions entrusted to the People's Armed Police, including, since 2001, UN peacekeeping.[34] The People's Armed Police Academy is headquartered in Langfang, of Hebei. The People's Armed Police Academy started to recruit cadets in 1984; since 1997, it has begun to issue bachelor's degrees; in 2003 it was allowed to issue master's degrees. According to a 2019 source, it is subordinate to the Ministry of Public Security.[34] The PAP Academy is a Corps Leader Grade command, and thus it is led by a major general who serves as Superintendent.[20]^:32[31] All graduates to the Academy are commissioned into the PAP as Second Lieutenants (equivalent of Ensigns for those commissioned into the Coast Guard).

The People's Armed Police Logistics Academy is a training body aimed to train People's Armed Police personnel in handling logistics. According to Unit Tracker, the university include subjects as applied economics, military and paramilitary logistics, as well as engineering.[35] The Logistics Academy is a Corps Leader Grade command, and thus it is led by a major general.[20]^:32[31]

The 1st Mobile Contingent is based in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, south of Beijing. The Contingent covers northern and central China, including Beijing.[36] The 1st Mobile Contingent consists of:[20]^:14

• 9 mobile detachments (Panjin, Liaoning; Shenyang, Liaoning; Bayisingtu, Inner Mongolia; Tianjin; Dingzhou, Hebei; Baoding, Hebei; Puzhong, Shanxi; Zhengzhou, Henan; Pingliang, Gansu);
• 3 Special Operations detachments (Beijing; Tianjin; Shijiazhuang);
• 2 Transportation detachments (Beijing and Xi’an, Shaanxi);
• 1 Engineering/Chemical Defence detachment (Huludao, Liaoning);
• 1 Helicopter detachment (Puzhong, Shanxi).

The 2nd Mobile Contingent is headquartered in Fuzhou, with units concentrated in Fujian and surrounding provinces along the coast (covering eastern and southern China).[20]^:13 The 2nd Mobile Contingent consists of:[20]^:14

• 9 mobile detachments (Wuyi, Jiangsu; Putian, Fujian; Guangzhou; Foshan, Guangdong; Mengzi, Yunnan; Nanchong, Sichuan);
• 2 Special Operations detachments (Guangzhou and Huzhou, Zhejiang);
• 3 Transportation detachments (Hefei, Anhui; Mianyang, Sichuan; Linzhi, Tibet);
• 1 Engineering/Chemical Defense detachment (Fuzhou, Fujian);
• 1 Helicopter detachment (Chengdu, Sichuan).

The incumbent Commander is Major General Chen Hongwu, while the Political Commissar is Major General Yang Zhenguo.

Within each provincial level division, an IGC Contingent (Chinese: 总队; pinyin: Zǒngduì), a formation equivalent in rank to a PLA Division,[1]^:116 is stationed, with the exception of Macau and Hong Kong.[18] The provincial command is deputy corps leader grade (Chinese: 副军级; pinyin: Fùjūnjí), with the exception of Xinjiang and Beijing Commands, which are senior in rank (Chinese: 正军级; pinyin: Zhèngjūnjí; lit. 'corps leader grade'). A provincial Contingent is deemed to be between 15,000 and 30,000 troops strong.[37]

The main tasks of the provincial commands are to undertake fixed target duty and urban armed patrol missions, to ensure the security of important national goals, to deal with various emergencies, to maintain national security and social stability, to support national economic construction and to carry out rescue and disaster relief tasks.

Each Contingent maintains a Staff, a Political Work Department and a Discipline Inspection Department. Beijing and Xinjiang Contingents maintain these departments at the Deputy Corps Leader Grade, while the other 30 Contingents maintain them at the Division Leader Grade.[20]^:32 All provincial-level Contingents maintain "Duty Detachments" (Chinese: 执勤支队; pinyin: Zhíqín Zhīduì), which perform routine duties, including protecting government compounds, in order to be able to complement the Public Security apparatus in case of the latter's failure to handle riots and other forms of mass incidents.[20]^:22

Alongside the territorial forces, units roughly equivalent to PLA ground force regiments/brigades, some of which formerly subordinated to the disbanded 14 mobile divisions and some already established within the provincial commands, have been renamed "Mobile Detachments" (Chinese: 机动支队; pinyin: Jīdòng Zhīduì).[12]^:233 Several of these Mobile Detachments are assigned to the provincial-level commands, in order to provide local authorities of rapid reaction forces. 26 provincial-level subdivisions have 1 Mobile Detachment in addition to the provincial force; seven subdivisions instead have more than one:[20]^:12–13,36

• Xinjiang: 7 Mobile Detachments;
• Beijing: 4 Mobile Detachments;
• Sichuan: 4 Mobile Detachments;
• Yunnan: 3 Mobile Detachments;
• Tibet: 3 Mobile Detachments;
• Qinghai: 2 Mobile Detachments;
• Shanghai: 2 Mobile Detachments.

The IGC Contingents deployed at the provincial levels are further downsized to regiments/brigades, battalions and companies in battle order, which are stationed in a number of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the headquarters. All the contingents have elementary command colleges under them.[21]

A Detachment (Chinese: 支队; pinyin: Zhīduì, equivalent to a PLA regiment/brigade) is stationed at the prefectural level, a public security battalion (Chinese: 大队; pinyin: Dàduì, equivalent to a PLA battalion) at the county level, and a public security company (Chinese: 中队; pinyin: Zhōngduì, equivalent to a PLA company) at the township level.[12]^:234[20]^:7

Special Police Units are organized and placed at the Provincial level and at national level.[37]

The national-level Special Police Unit is the People's Armed Police Special Police Academy, reporting to the People's Armed Police Headquarters. The Academy has both educational and operational roles. On one hand, it is tasked to provide courses in special reconnaissance and special police operations; on the other hand, it has to carry out counter terrorism missions, riot control, anti-hijacking and bomb disposal. The main operational unit of the People's Armed Police Special Police Academy is the Falcon Unit.[37] In addition, the 1st and 2nd Mobile Contingents maintain a total of 5 Special Operations Detachments.[20]^:12–13

Each provincial-level Contingent (Chinese: 总队; pinyin: Zǒngduì) establishes and maintains special police units as part of its own territorial organization.[37] As of 2019, there are three known special police units within the People's Armed Police:[39][40]

• Falcon Unit: Beijing;
• Snow Leopard Commando Unit: Guangzhou;
• Mountain Eagle Commando Unit: Xinjiang.

For what regards Special Operations detachments of the Mobile Contingents, some of the specialized units may have drawn from the provincial Contingents.[20]^:36

Title	武警列兵 Wu jing lie bing	武警上等兵 Wu jing shang deng bing	武警下士 Wu jing xia shi	武警中士 Wu jing zhong shi	武警上士 Wu jing shang shi	武警四级警士长 Wu jing si ji jing shi zhang	武警三级警士长 Wu jing san ji jing shi zhang	武警二级警士长 Wu jing er ji jing shi zhang	武警一级警士长 Wu jing yi ji jing shi zhang
Usual Translation	PAP private (OR-1)	PAP private 1st class (OR-2)	PAP lance corporal (OR-3)	PAP corporal (OR-4)	PAP sergeant (OR-5)	PAP chief sergeant 4th class (OR-6)	PAP chief sergeant 3rd class (OR-7)	PAP chief sergeant 2nd class (OR-8)	PAP chief sergeant 1st class (OR-9)
Shoulder Insignia
Collar Insignia

For ranks used by the China Coast Guard, see Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy, the CCG uses the ranks, insignia and uniforms used by the PLA Navy