PLA deputies call for revision of Civil Air Defense Law

Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) from the General Staff Headquarters (GSH), the General Logistics Department (GLD), the Jinan Military Area Command (MAC) and the Chengdu Military Area Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently proposed a joint motion calling for revision of the Civil Air Defense Law, which has ignited fervent discussions.

Bai Jianjun, director of the Operation Department of the GSH, is one of the proposers of the motion. He told reporter that the current Civil Air Defense Law has effectively safeguarded the construction and development of civil air defense since it came into force as of January 1, 1997. However, new situations and new things have kept bobbing up following the on-going change of the world, so some of the provisions in the Civil Air Defense Law are no longer adequate to solve the emerging contradictions in practice.

"Under the situation that there have been no wars for decades, civil air defense construction will gradually lose its vitality due to the lack of understanding from various sectors of the society."

"Will the existing air defense projects be able to fully satisfy the needs of air defense in cities during the war time?"

Focusing on the problems concerning the construction of civil air defense projects, the motion proposed by some NPC deputies from the military circle gives the following three specific proposals:

A. Establishing and improving the protection system of important economic targets

Wang Weijun, head of a department of the Logistical Engineering College of the PLA, told reporter that "Economic targets concern the national economy and people's livelihood as well as potentials of a country in wars; therefore, they should be well protected." A comprehensive method should be adopted in protection of important economic targets including taking stealth, camouflage, electromagnetic protective measures, and so on.

B. Establishing the information-oriented civil air defense system

Lu Shengjun, deputy to the NPC and political commissar of the Informationalization Department of the GSH of the PLA, suggested to change the title of the Chapter Four of the Civil Air Defense Law from "Communication and Warning" to "Civil Air Defense Information" with adding relevant contents. The revised Chapter Four should clarify responsibilities and obligations assigned to relevant military and civilian departments, units and individuals in the informationalization of civil air defense construction. The system of air defense and disaster-prevention information assessment and release should also be established, Lu suggested.

C. Clarifying the responsibilities, rights and interests of the civil air defense construction investing entities

According to Li Tingwei, political director of the communication station under the PLA Chongqing Garrison, when revising the law, a sound ownership system for civil air defense projects should be established in unity, and property ownership of civil air defense projects should be clearly defined, while clear and concrete provisions should be specified for the construction, usage and maintenance of the projects.