(ECNS) -- Northeast China's Jilin has become the latest city to punish people who have refused to serve in the army, putting 17 people on a personal credit blacklist and banning them from going abroad. They will also face restrictions when trying to purchase property.
The people involved are not strong willed or well-suited to military training or life, and had repeatedly asked to leave the army despite persuasion from their parents and authorities, according to a statement from the office in charge of recruitment.
Their punishment also includes being banned from taking the public service test, pursuing higher secondary education for two years, traveling by air, and staying in five-star hotels as well as indulging in other high-end consumption habits.
Several other regions have made public the names of those who quit military service. Fuan City in east China's Fujian Province ordered two deserters to pay 30,000 yuan ($4,730) as punishment and the behavior was also recorded on their Hukou, or household registrations. The deserters were also prohibited from traveling overseas. Sichuan province also introduced punishments related to educational, economic and business rights.
Military law experts said that punishment of those who refuse to serve in the army is progress. But the punishments were administered under conscription law and other laws not necessarily backed by legislation or regulations, making the practice controversial.
Li Weihai, director of the military law research institute at the University of Political Science and Law, said that although it is illegal to dodge the draft, there are no punishments stipulated in national or provincial laws.
