The country has recruited a large group of specialized personnel into its reserve forces in an attempt to upgrade its military capabilities.

New personnel include electronic and web engineers that hold advanced degree certificates.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported yesterday that the military has increased the proportion of new- and high-tech units, to include specialized information protection and prevention detachments, satellite communications, and electronic interference systems.

China's armed forces are divided into the active and reserve service. Active forces are servicemen in active service in the PLA, which now stands at 2.3 million. Members of the Chinese People's Armed Police Forces are also considered members of the active forces. The reserve forces include individuals in reserve that hold other civilian jobs and are called upon by the military when required.

In Northeast China's Liaoning Province, one reserve anti-aircraft artillery regiment has recruited 37 people holding master's and doctor's degrees, including one electronics information expert who has returned from the United States with a doctor's degree. Hexi District of North China's Tianjin Municipality has also grouped thousands of personnel from new and high-tech enterprises into the unit, the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, specialized technical detachments account for 41 per cent of reserve units, the paper said, and comprises of rapid reaction detachments, infantry detachments, specialized technical detachments and detachments with corresponding specialties.

The units involved have rehearsed drills in the field utilizing the newly-added specialized personnel to enhance their combating capabilities, the paper said.

On November 4, the Beijing Military Area Command hosted an anti-aircraft exercise for a reserve division, while a unit in Zhengzhou of Central China's Henan Province held an electronics interference exercise.

One anti-chemical reserve unit even held the first exercise to rehearse the country's anti-nuclear emergency drills, the paper reported yesterday.

(China Daily December 29, 2005)