The People's Armed Police Force, abbreviated PAP, is a Chinese gendarmerie organization as well as providing support to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during wartime.
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. 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 . 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 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.
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).
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.
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
thumb|239x239px|People's Armed Police Guards in front of [[Tiananmen]]
The People's Armed Police is formally regulated by the People's Armed Police Law of the People's Republic of China (), 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.
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". 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.
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:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Commander
!Took office
!Left office
!notice
|-
|Li Gang
|January 1983
|October 1984
|
|-
|Li Lianxiu
|October 1984
|January 1990
|
|-
|Wang Jianping
|December 2009
|December 2014
|
|-
|Wang Ning
|December 2014
|December 2020
|
|-
|Wang Chunning
|December 2020
|July 2025
|
|-
|Cao Junzhang
|July 2025
|
|
|}
Political Commissar:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Political Commissar
!Took office
!Left office
!notice
|-
|Zhao Cangbi
|January 1983
|July 1983
|
|-
|Yu Linxiang
|September 2007
|July 2010
|
|-
|Xu Yaoyuan
|July 2010
|September 2014
|
|-
|An Zhaoqing
|March 2019
|January 2022
|
|-
|Zhang Hongbing
|January 2022
|December 2025
|
|}
Training
The People's Armed Police has a number of training institutions, likely overseen by the Training Bureau of the Staff Department.
According to Zi Yang, the state of the education and training system as of 2016 suffered of issues which negatively affected the quality of education.
People's Armed Police Academy
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. 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. The Logistics Academy is a Corps Leader Grade command, and thus it is led by a major general. The PAP also has departments responsible for logistical and political matters and several speciality departments.
Following adjustment and reorganization, the People's Armed Police is mainly composed of the territorial forces, the mobile forces, and the Coast Guard.
The People's Armed Police Headquarters, placed at Theater Command Grade, include five Departments directly under the Headquarters:
- Staff Department (Deputy Theater Command Grade);
- Training Bureau (Division Leader Grade);
- Intelligence Bureau (Division Leader Grade), led by Zhang Xiaoqi;
- Political Work Department (Deputy Theater Command Grade): led by Director Lieutenant general Gao Wei;
- Propaganda Bureau (Division Leader Grade);
- Soldier and Civilian Personnel Bureau (Division Leader Grade);
- Discipline Inspection Commission (Deputy Theater Command Grade);
- Logistics Department (Corps Leader Grade);
- Equipment Department (Corps Leader Grade).
Being of Theatre Command Grade, the People's Armed Police is led by a full General.
Mobile corps
Mobile corps (), often mistranslated as "Contingents" are large formations without fixed areas of responsibility. Two were created after the 2018 reforms; most of the subordinate units came from the 14 disbanded mobile divisions. Mobile corps are corps leader grade formations The 2nd Mobile Corps is headquartered in Fuzhou, with units concentrated in Fujian and surrounding provinces along the coast (covering eastern and southern China). Western analysts have used "contingent",
Corps are further subdivided at lower administrative levels. Regimental or brigade-level police detachments () are found in provinces, prefectures, and specifically designated cities. Battalions () are located in districts of the important cities and counties. Companies () are found in counties. During the 2018 reforms, the Transportation Corps was reorganized into part of the 1st and 2nd mobile corps.
History
The lineage of the 1st Transportation Detachment, 2nd Mobile Corps dates back to the 2nd World War, when it was known as the Laiyuan guerilla detachment of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military district. It participated in the Chinese civil war, WW2 and the Korean war. After becoming part of the it was deployed to build the Duku Highway in 1974 in which 47 personnel lost their lives.
The 6th Detachment of the transportation corps deployed 105 officers and 48 vehicles for urban search and rescue duties during the 2015 Shenzhen landslide.
Organization (Post-2018)
After the 2018 reforms, the transportation corps was reorganized into 5 detachments in the 1st and 2nd Mobile Corps:
- 1st Transportation Detachment, 2nd Mobile Corps- Stationed in Hefei, Anhui
- 3rd Transportation Detachment, 2nd Mobile Corps - Stationed in Bomê County, Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region
China Coast Guard
The Chinese People's Armed Police Force Coast Guard Bureau, also abbreviated as China Coast Guard is the agency for maritime search and rescue and law enforcement in the territorial waters of the People's Republic of China. The China Coast Guard was formerly the maritime branch of the People's Armed Police (PAP) Border Security Force under the Ministry of Public Security until 2013. In March 2013, China announced it would form a unified Coast Guard commanded by the State Oceanic Administration. This renewed Coast Guard has been in operation since July 2013. As of July 1, 2018, the China Coast Guard was transferred from civilian control of the State Council and the State Oceanic Administration, to the People's Armed Police, ultimately placing it under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
According to Joel Wuthnow, the Coast Guard Command within the People's Armed Police possibly is of Corps Leader Grade, led by a Commandant who is usually holding Major General (Rear Admiral) rank.
Special Operations units
The People's Armed Police maintains several Special Operations Units, In 2002, the Snow Wolf Commando Unit, since 2007 Snow Leopard Commando Unit, was established in Beijing as the second special police unit. fast roping, counterinsurgency tactics, along with training in hostage rescue and hostage negotiation.
Structure of Special operational units
thumb|Insignia of the Wild Wolf unit
Special Police Units/Special operations units are organized and placed at the Municipal
The Mobile Detachment's 1st Special Operations Company is known as the "Sky Sword" unit (). It can trace its lineage back to the 7th Company, 3rd Battalion of the 28th Group Army's 84th Infantry Division's 251st Regiment which was involved in the Battle of Jinan and the Huaihai campaign. In its entire history, it was deployed to approximately 50 law enforcement/disaster relief operations, won gold or silver in 100+ competitions and was awarded first class meritorious service medals 1 time, 2nd class meritorious service medals 5 times and 3rd class meritorious service medals 12 times.
The Shenzhen Detachment's Special Operations Company is known as the "Wild Wolf" unit (). It was founded in 2005 and given the name in 2008.
The Jinan Detachment's Special Operations Company is known as the "Lightning Commando Unit" () it was founded in 2009 and only had 30 members at the start.
Border Defense Corps Special Operations units
In April 2012, the Xinjiang Border Defense Corps Female Special Service team (新疆公安边防总队女子特勤分队) was founded. In March 2015 it was renamed to the "Snowy Eagle Female Special Service team" (雪鹰女子特勤分队) at the Xinjiang Border Corps Training Base. At its founding in 2012, it only had 6 members, and by March 2015 it had 34 members. It assisted in security at the China Eurasia Expo multiple times.
The Shenzhen Border Defense Detachment operated the (Nicknamed "Maritime Jiaolongs"), a police tactical unit which is dedicated to maritime anti-terrorism, search and rescue, combat diving and VBSS.
Communications
Using the national information infrastructure, the PAP has established a preliminary system of three-level integrated information networks, linking general headquarters with the grass-roots squadrons.
|-
|QCW-05
|Personal defense weapon
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|QBZ-95
| rowspan="5" |Assault rifle
| rowspan="3" |
|-
|QBZ-191
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|Norinco CQ
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|Type 81
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|QBZ-03
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|QBS-06
|Underwater assault rifle
|Used by Snow Leopard Commando Unit
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|QBS-09
|Shotgun
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|Type 85 sniper rifle
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|Remington M700
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|CS/LR4
| rowspan="7" |
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|Type 69 RPG
| rowspan="2" |Rocket launchers
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|PF-98
|Used by Snow Leopard Commando Unit K9s and ballistic shields are also used.
- CSK-181 Infantry mobility vehicle
- CSZ-181 Infantry mobility vehicle - Used by Snow Leopard Commando Unit
- Ford Transit police van(sometimes unmarked)
- Roewe W5 police car
- Unmarked Mitsubishi Pajero police car
- Unmarked Toyota Land Cruiser police car
- Unmarked Toyota Coaster minibus
- Foton Toano military ambulance
- Excavators
- Bulldozers
- Bridge-laying vehicle
- Hyundai Trago dump truck
- Wheel loaders
Vessels
The PAP Ganzhou Detachment have been seen with speedboats for search and rescue during floods. The Snow Leopard Commando Unit also uses speedboats when raiding terrorist hideouts in islands.
- Changhe Z-8 - Used by and (defunct; 8 operated; handed over to National Fire and Rescue Administration)
- Harbin Z-9 - Used by since September 2015
- All terrain vehicle - seen in use with defunct
<gallery>
File:CAPF Changhe Z-8AWJS AN2706939.jpg|Forestry Corps Changhe Z-8WJS
File:武警水电部队的挖掘机正在登上漕渡门桥去堰塞体排险.jpg|Hydropower corps Excavators providing aid after the 2014 Ludian earthquake
</gallery>
Line of duty deaths
Ranks and insignia
Due to its history with the PLA, the PAP has a similar rank structure to the PLA and also obeys its regulations. PAP guards are also recruited at the same time and through the same procedures as PLA soldiers. However, the PAP has its own education and training system separate from the PLA. Like the PLA, the PAP also celebrates Army Day on August 1 of every year, and enjoys the same services as the PLA.
Officers
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!Equivalent Translation
| General
| Lieutenant general
| Major general
| Senior colonel
| Colonel
| Lieutenant colonel
| Major
| Captain
| 1st lieutenant
| 2nd lieutenant
| Officer cadet
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Shoulder Insignia
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| align="center" width="5%" | 50px
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Collar Insignia
| align="center" width="9%" | 50px
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Non-commissioned officers and enlisted
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
! width=12%| Title
! width=8%| <br />
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|- style="text-align:center;"
! Equivalent translation
| Master Sergeant 1st class
| Master Sergeant 2nd class
| Master Sergeant 3rd class
| Staff sergeant 1st Class
| Staff sergeant 2nd Class
| Sergeant
| Corporal
| Private 1st class
| Private
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Shoulder Insignia
| 50px
| 50px
| 50px
| 50px
| 50px
| 50px
| 50px
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|-style="text-align:center;"
!Collar Insignia
| 50px
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See also
- Gendarmerie
- Republic of China (Taiwan) Military Police
- Central Armed Police Forces