The Chinese government has increased the amount of special subsidies for Red Army veterans, a group of the oldest retirees from the military, according to an annual report recently released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

 

Last year, the average amount of pensions for these retired Red Army soldiers reached 10,250 yuan (about US$1,280) per year, an increase of 6.3 percent over the figure of the previous year.

 

It is part of the government's effort to care for those who should receive preferential treatment, including the veterans of the Red Army, also known as the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, which is the predecessor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

 

In 2005, the Chinese government gave a total of 14.36 billion yuan (approximately US$1.8 billion), up nearly 38 percent, in subsidies for different groups of disabled ex-soldiers and the families of those army men who sacrificed their lives during revolutionary war years.

 

Last year, the government issued new regulations for injured military personnel, which unifies the subsidies for those who are either in service or retired.

 

As of the end of 2005, China had 4,603,000 people who received government subsidies for injuries, including 2,145,000 ex-soldiers,2,681 Red Army veterans, 76,000 people who had been confirmed to be former members of the Red Army, and 885,000 civilians who had become disabled by battle-related injuries.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)