View source for People's Armed Police

{{short description|Chinese paramilitary organization}}
{{about|the Chinese paramilitary police force|other agencies|Armed Police (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname        = People's Armed Police Force
| nativenamea       = <!--  native_namea parameter is intentionally left blank since we already used chinese name infobox  -->
| commonname        = '''{{lang|zh-Hans-CN|武警部队}}''' ({{lang-zh |s =  |p = Wǔjǐng Bùduì  |l = Armed Police Force |labels = no }})
| abbreviation      = '''PAP''' ("People's Armed Police")<br /> <del>'''CAPF'''</del> ("Chinese Armed Police Force"), formerly abbreviated<br />'''''Wujing''''' ({{lang-zh |s = 武警 |p = Wǔjǐng |l = Armed Police |labels = no }}), or '''WJ''' as on vehicle license plates
| patch             = People's Armed Police Flag.svg
| patchcaption      = Flag of the Force<br>(since 10 January 2018)
| logo              = 
| logocaption       = 
| badge             = Chinese People's Armed Police Force (CAPF) cap insignia (2021).svg
| badgecaption      = Badge of the Force<br>(since 1 August 2021){{efn|The Badge of the Chinese PAP Force ({{lang|zh-Hans-CN|中国人民武装警察部队徽}}) was determined by the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]] and officially put into use on August 1, 2021, in accordance with the 2020 revision of the National Defense Law's Article 28.<ref>{{cite news |title = 武警部队徽将于8月1日启用 |url = http://www.mod.gov.cn/topnews/2021-07/29/content_4890496.htm |access-date = 2021-07-29 |publisher = [[Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China]] |website = [[People's Liberation Army Daily]] Press |date = 2021-07-29 |archive-date = 2021-07-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210729092307/http://www.mod.gov.cn/topnews/2021-07/29/content_4890496.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> Traditionally subject to the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Public Security system]], the PAP used the {{ill|Police Badge of the Chinese People's Police|zh|中国人民警察警徽}} (1983) as its symbol and cap insignia. But from 2007, [[:File:Chinese People's Armed Police Force (CAPF) cap insignia.svg|the PAP cap insignia]] is slightly different from the [[Civil Service of the People's Republic of China|civil]] [[People's Police (China)|People's Police]] badge by using [[olive green]] instead of police blue on the shield and adding the [[olive]] branches alongside the [[pine]] branches around the shield.<ref>{{cite web |author = China Military Web |title = 解放军军旗、军徽和武警部队旗、徽简史 |url = https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20210103a0cge300 |access-date = 2021-07-31 |publisher = [[People's Liberation Army Daily]] Press |via = QQ.com |archive-date = 2021-10-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181432/https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20210103a0cge300 |url-status = live }}</ref>}}
| flag              = PAP Armband.svg
| flagcaption       = Sleeve badge of the Force
| imagesize         = 
| motto             = {{Lang|zh-Hans-CN|为人民服务}}
| mottotranslated   = ([[Serve the People]])
| formed            = {{start date and age|df=yes|1982|6|19}}
| preceding1        = <!-- (...up to 6...) -->
| dissolved         = 
| superseding       = 
| employees         = 1.5 million
| budget            = 
| legalpersonality  = 
| country           = China
| national          = yes
| legaljuris        = [[China|People's Republic of China]]
| governingbody     = [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]]
| constitution1     = {{lang|zh-Hans-CN|《中华人民共和国人民武装警察法》}} (People's Armed Police Law of the People's Republic of China)
| gendarmerie       = yes
| speciality1       = paramilitary
| speciality2       = coast
| oversighttype     = 
| oversightbody     = [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]]
| headquarters      = [[Haidian District]], [[Beijing]]
| hqlocmap          = 
| hqlocmapborder    = 
| hqlocmapwidth     = 
| hqlocmapheight    = 
| hqlocleft         = 
| hqloctop          = 
| hqlocmappoptitle  = 
| sworntype         = 
| sworn             = 
| unsworntype       = 
| unsworn           = 
| electeetype       = 
| chief1name        = PAP General [[Wang Chunning]]
| chief1position    = Commander
| chief2name        = PAP General [[Zhang Hongbing]]
| chief2position    = [[Political Commissar]]
| chief3name        = PAP General [[Zhou Jianguo]]
| chief3position    = Chief of Staff
<!-- (...up to 6...) -->| parentagency      = [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]]
| child1agency      = PAP Internal Guard Corps: 32 × contingents
| child2agency      = PAP Mobile Corps: 2 × contingents
| child3agency      = [[China Coast Guard|PAP Coastal Guard Corps]]: 1 x contingent
<!-- (...up to 8...) -->| website           = {{URL|http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/ARMEDFORCES/ArmedPoliceForce/index.html|chinamil.com.cn}}
| footnotes         = 
| reference         = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| order = st
| title = Chinese People's Armed Police Force
| s = 中国人民武装警察部队
| t = 中國人民武裝警察部隊
| p = Zhōngguó Rénmín Wǔzhuāng Jǐngchá Bùduì
| altname = People's Armed Police
| s2 = 人民武装警察
| t2 = 人民武裝警察
| p2 = Rénmín Wǔzhuāng Jǐngchá
| altname3 = China Armed Police
| s3 = 中国武警
| t3 = 中國武警
| p3 = Zhōngguó Wǔjǐng
| altname4 = Armed Police [Force]
| s4 = 武警［部队］
| t4 = 武警［部隊］
| p4 = Wǔjǐng [Bùduì]
| l4 = 
}}
{{PRC military sidebar}}
{{Politics of China |expanded = Military }}

The '''People's Armed Police Force<ref>{{Cite web |title=Military Services – Ministry of National Defense |url=http://eng.mod.gov.cn/xb/MilitaryServices/index.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=eng.mod.gov.cn}}</ref>'''{{efn|[[abbreviation]]: '''PAP'''; {{Lang-zh |s = 中国人民武装警察部队 |p = Zhōngguó Rénmín Wǔzhuāng Jǐngchá Bùduì }}}} is a Chinese [[gendarmerie]] [[Paramilitary forces of China|paramilitary]] organization<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|121}} primarily responsible for [[internal security]], [[riot control]], [[counter-terrorism]], [[disaster response]], [[law enforcement]] and [[admiralty law|maritime rights protection]]<ref name="ChinaDaily2009">{{cite news |url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/27/content_8625494.htm |title = Top legislature passes armed police law |date = 2009-08-27 |newspaper = China Daily |access-date = 2019-10-04 |archive-date = 2021-08-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210831092927/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/27/content_8625494.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> as well as providing support to the [[People's Liberation Army]] (PLA) during wartime.<ref name="Blasko2006"/>{{rp|87}}

Unlike the civilian [[People's Police (China)|People's Police]],{{efn|{{lang-zh |c = 人民警察 |p = Rénmín Jǐngchá }}}} the PAP{{efn|{{Lang-zh |c = 武警 |p = Wǔjǐng |l=Armed Police }}}} is a specialized paramilitary force reporting directly to the [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]] (CMC). PAP officers and soldiers wear [[dark olive green]] uniforms, different from [[spring green#Pine green|pine green]] uniforms of the [[People's Liberation Army Ground Force]] (PLAGF) or the light blue and black uniforms of the People's Police.

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 [[China|People's Republic of China]] in 1949. During the [[Mao Zedong|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.<ref name="Xia2017">{{cite news |last1=Xia |first1=Mingxing |last2=Zhang |first2=Ning |last3=Zhu |first3=Xiongnan |title = 毛泽东关心武警部队早期建设纪事 |trans-title = Mao Zedong cares about the early construction of the armed police force |url = http://dangshi.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0816/c85037-29473731.html |access-date = 23 June 2019 |website = People's Daily Online |date = 16 August 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232426/http://dangshi.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0816/c85037-29473731.html |archive-date=28 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The PAP has been compared by both Chinese and foreign scholars with the [[gendarmerie]] forces found in many countries, most famously the [[French Gendarmerie]],<ref>Bao Xiaoyan and Zhang Tingyu: "Comparison of the Leadership System of the Armed Police Force and the French Gendarmerie", in "Journal of the Armed Police Command Academy" 2010, Issue 5</ref> 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 [[Volkspolizei-Bereitschaft|Alert Units]], adapted to the specific military-political culture and thinking of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) leadership.<ref>Xia Yong, Gendarmerie as a Law Enforcement Force: Type Comparison and Enlightenment, "Rules of Law Research", 2016, Issue 3, page 110</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Modernizing China's military : progress, problems, and prospects |last=Shambaugh, David L. |date=2002 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0520225074 |location=Berkeley |pages=[https://archive.org/details/modernizingchina0000sham/page/170 170] |oclc=49225216 |url=https://archive.org/details/modernizingchina0000sham/page/170 }}</ref>

=== People's Public Security Force ===
In July 1949, the CMC decided to establish the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Ministry of Public Security]] (MPS) with [[Luo Ruiqing]] as its minister to organize the public security forces in the nation.<ref name="Xia2017"/> In August 1949, several security and public order units of the [[Fourth Field Army]] were consolidated into the '''Central Column''' of the '''Chinese People's Public Security Force''' (PSF) to guard the [[Leadership of the People's Republic of China|Party and State leaders]] and to keep the public order in the [[Beijing|capital]].<ref name="Xia2017"/> The Central Column provided security for the inauguration ceremony of the People's Republic.<ref name="Xia2017"/>  From December 1949 to May 1950, regional security forces, along with the now dissolved Central Column, had been consolidated into divisions under the PSF.<ref name="Xia2017"/>

The PSF was assigned to the PLA and became the PLA '''Public Security Force''' in September 1950, and the PLA '''Public Security Corps''' in July 1955, reporting under the Central Military Commission of the CCP and the National Defense Council of the People's Republic.<ref name="Xia2017"/><ref name="Sun2009">{{Cite journal |last1=Sun |first1=Ivan Y. |last2=Wu |first2=Yuning |date=December 2009 |title=The Role of the People's Armed Police in Chinese Policing |journal=Asian Journal of Criminology |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=107–128 |doi=10.1007/s11417-008-9059-y |s2cid=143891785 |issn=1871-0131}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Xia2017"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=Gun barrel politics : party--army relations in Mao's China |last=Chu, Fang. |date=1998 |publisher=Westview Press |isbn=081333456X |location=Boulder, CO |pages=40–41 |oclc=38286530}}</ref>

As of 1960, the Public Security Corps was organised in 8,200-strong Public Security Divisions, which were deemed not capable of independent, sustained, full-scale combat operations.<ref name="HandbookChineseArmy1960">{{cite book |last1=Army |first1=United States Department of the |title=Handbook on the Chinese Communist Army |date=1960 |publisher=The Department |location=Washington |pages=43–44 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g40PLENq5SEC |access-date=2 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

=== 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 guard]]s and [[fire brigade]]s.<ref name="Xia2017"/> The headquarter was set up in the MPS as a subordinate department.<ref>{{cite web |last1=张 |first1=海华 |title=武警部队历史沿革 - 中国军网 |url=http://www.81.cn/2016wujing/2016-03/06/content_6944527.htm |publisher=中国军网 |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=29 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229052139/http://www.81.cn/2016wujing/2016-03/06/content_6944527.htm |archive-date=2017-12-29 }}</ref> 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,<ref name="Guo2012">{{cite book |title = China's security state : philosophy, evolution, and politics |last = Guo |first = Xuezhi |publisher = Cambridge University Press, Aug |year=2012 |isbn = 9781107688841 |location = Cambridge |oclc = 874118926 }}</ref>{{rp|228–229}} in the wake of growing unrest.<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|229}}

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 of the Chinese Communist Party|general secretary]] [[Jiang Zemin]] significantly expanded and strengthened the PAP, with more than 100,000 new troops.<ref name="Eckholm1999">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/28/world/a-secretive-army-grows-to-maintain-order-in-china.html |title=A Secretive Army Grows to Maintain Order in China |last=Eckholm |first=Erik |date=28 March 1999 |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 June 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=4 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304195100/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/28/world/a-secretive-army-grows-to-maintain-order-in-china.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 Autonomous Region|Tibet]].<ref name="Eckholm1999" />

Up until 2013, the [[China Coast Guard]] was a part of the PAP. In 2013, it was separated and transferred to the direct control of the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Ministry of Public Security]] and the [[State Oceanic Administration]]. However, in March 2018, it was announced that the Coast Guard would be placed under the People's Armed Police Force once again since the State Oceanic Administration was disbanded, but now as an independent branch reporting directly to PAP headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-s-coast-guard-is-now-a-military-police-unit |title=China's Coast Guard is Now a Military Police Unit |date=2018-03-21 |work=The Maritime Executive |access-date=2019-10-04 |language=en |archive-date=2019-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815080140/https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/china-s-coast-guard-is-now-a-military-police-unit |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2017–2018 Reform ===
[[File:Chinese wheeled APC (2008).jpg|thumb|240px|Wheeled APC ([[WZ-551]]) of the People's Armed Police]]
Until 31 December 2017, the People's Armed Police had a dual command structure including the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] through the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Ministry of Public Security]] (MPS).<ref name="Blasko2006" />{{rp|18}}

Prior to the 2018 reform, the People's Armed Police was further divided into eight corps: Internal Guard, Gold, Forestry, Hydropower, Transportation, Border Defense, Firefighting, and Safeguard Corps.<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|232}} The Internal Guard Corps, which makes up for the bulk of PAP, is under the PAP Headquarters and reports thus to the party central committee and the CMC (Central Military Commission). The Gold, Forestry, Hydropower, and Transportation Corps, collectively known as the Specialist Corps, were by then under the joint leadership of PAP Headquarters and their respective ministries in the State Council.<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|232}} The Border Defense, Firefighting, and Guard Corps, collectively known as the Public Security Corps, were then under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|232}}

By law however, the PAP operates separately from the PLA.<ref name="Blasko2006"/>{{rp|18}} and, in terms of conducting public security operations and relevant capability building, the PAP Headquarters is under the leadership and command of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

From 1 January 2018, command of the People's Armed Police is jointly held by the [[Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party|CCP central committee]] and the Central Military Commission (CMC), with the PAP no longer subordinate to the State Council.<ref name="CD28Dec17">{{cite news |last=Zhao |first=Lei |title=Command of Armed Police Force to be unified - Chinadaily.com.cn |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/28/WS5a441fa5a31008cf16da3d96.html |access-date=26 January 2018 |newspaper=China Daily |date=28 December 2017 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185235/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/28/WS5a441fa5a31008cf16da3d96.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 Lijun|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.<ref name="SCMP28Dec17">{{cite news |last = Zhou |first = Viola |title = Why China's armed police will only take orders from Xi's army elite |url = http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2126039/reason-why-chinas-armed-police-will-now-only-take |access-date = 26 January 2018 |newspaper = South China Morning Post |date = 28 December 2017 |archive-date = 27 January 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180127011354/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2126039/reason-why-chinas-armed-police-will-now-only-take |url-status = live }}</ref>

On 10 January 2018, the PAP received a new flag following the design of the branch flags of the [[People's Liberation Army|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.cn/topnews/2018-01/10/content_4802151.htm|title=国防部新闻发言人吴谦就武警部队旗寓意答问|date=2018-01-10|publisher=[[Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China]]|accessdate=2018-01-10|archive-date=2020-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004005022/http://www.mod.gov.cn/topnews/2018-01/10/content_4802151.htm}}</ref>

On 21 March 2018, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party unveiled a reform plan for the People's Armed Police Force.<ref name="Jamestown24Mar16PAP">{{cite web |last1=Zi |first1=Yang |title=Party plan for reform unveiled - China Daily |url=http://www.ecns.cn/2018/03-22/296669.shtml |website=ECNS.cn |access-date=21 March 2018 |date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322073807/http://www.ecns.cn/2018/03-22/296669.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ni2018">{{cite news |url = http://www.bjnews.com.cn/inside/2018/04/06/482152.html |title = 武警改革的出与进：八大警种瘦身健体 |last = Ni |first = Wei |date = 2018-04-06 |newspaper = The Beijing News |access-date = 2018-06-19 |trans-title = The Coming and Going of the PAP Reform: Eight Corps Slimming Down |archive-date = 2018-06-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163903/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/inside/2018/04/06/482152.html |url-status = live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ni2018" /> The Transportation Corps is the only remaining component of the Specialist Corps.

Until 2018, the Specialist Corps were responsible in constructing and maintaining highways and roads, surveying mineral deposits, fighting forest fires, and constructing large scale <ref name="Wuthnow2019" /> waterworks like dams and levees as well as for water works maintenance.<ref name="CAPF" /> The PAP is also called upon in emergency rescue and disaster relief operations within the PRC via the specialist and public security forces which can be forward deployed during such operations.<ref name="CAPF" />

==== Organizational changes ====
With the 2018 reforms, Specialist Corps other than the Transportation Corps have been placed under other ministries. China Coast Guard (CCG) was transferred from State Council to PAP command, and the Transportation Corps has some units under the Mobile Contingents.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|15}}

The Border Defense Corps and Guards Corps have been absorbed by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The Firefighting and Forestry Corps  were merged with the fire department of the [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|MPS]] and reorganized as [[China Fire and Rescue]] (CF&R), it was placed under the [[Ministry of Emergency Management]]. The Gold Corps and Hydropower Corps have been transformed into state-owned  enterprises under the supervision of the relevant State Council ministries ([[Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of Natural Resources]] and [[China National Gold Group Corporation]] and China Aneng Construction Corporation, respectively).<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|15}}

=== 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.<ref name="Sun2009"/><ref>Lu Gengsong, ''China's Armed Police and Nationalization of the Police Force'', Beijing Spring, September 2006</ref>

*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 [[People's Liberation Army|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 ==
[[File:Tiananmen Square, August 2012 10.JPG|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 ({{zh|c=中华人民共和国人民武装警察法|labels=no}}), adopted and effective since 27 August 2009.<ref name="NPCObs17Apr20">{{cite web |title=People's Armed Police Law |url=https://npcobserver.com/lawlist/peoples-armed-police-law/ |website=NPC Observer |access-date=18 April 2020 |language=en |date=17 April 2020}}</ref>

The People's Armed Police's primary mission is internal security. The first law on the People's Armed Police, the Law on the People's Armed Police Force (PAPF), was passed in August 2009, giving it statutory authority to respond to riots, terrorist attacks or other emergencies.<ref name="ChinaDaily2009"/><ref name="Wines2009">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/world/asia/28china.html |title=China Approves Law Governing Armed Police Force |last=Wines |first=Michael |date=2009-08-27 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2019-10-04 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2019-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907084231/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/world/asia/28china.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="APF">{{cite web |title = Armed Police Force |url = http://eng.mod.gov.cn/ArmedForces/armed.htm |website = Ministry of National Defense |access-date = 22 September 2015 |archive-date = 23 September 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085952/http://eng.mod.gov.cn/ArmedForces/armed.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> Some units perform guard duty in civilian prisons and provide executioners for the state. The PAP also maintains [[Police tactical unit|tactical]] [[counter-terrorism]] (CT) units in the [[Snow Wolf Commando Unit]] (SWCU) and various [[Special Police Unit]]s (SPUs).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chatterji |first1=Manas |title=Cooperation for a peaceful and sustainable world |date=2013 |publisher=Emerald |location=Bingley, U.K. |isbn=9781781906569 |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2VeVCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70 |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101161143/https://books.google.com/books?id=2VeVCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the Chinese policing system, the People's Armed Police concentrates on managing protests otherwise referred to as "mass incidents" and protecting important facilities and events, while the public security officers focus on handling crime and issues related to the maintenance of public order.<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|119}} The People's Armed Police assists the regular police in operations where violent opposition is expected, in roadblocks and  the protection of crime scenes. The People's Armed Police is also involved in anti-crime campaigns. In order maintenance activities, the People's Armed Police uses the preventive patrol, under the leadership of the public security organs, and sometimes in conjunction with them. When dealing with mass incidents, with gang activities and other risk situations, responsibility shifts to the People's Armed Police. However, the People's Armed Police also conducts exclusive patrols.<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|123–125}}

The PAP maintains both a division-sized mechanized infantry unit and a rapid deployment light motorized infantry unit, these units are tasked with responding to any possible armed mutinies by PLA soldiers. In wartime deployments the PAP can act as light infantry supporting the PLAGF in local defense missions and in support of the PLAN in naval operations.<ref name="Blasko2006">{{cite book |title=The Chinese Army today : tradition and transformation for the 21st century |last=Blasko |first = Dennis J. |year=2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0415770025 |edition=2nd |location=London |oclc=68694731 }}</ref>{{rp|87}}

=== 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”.<ref name="RollandChinaSecurityOverseas" />{{rp|14–15}}

The People's Armed Police sent personnel abroad to receive training or provide training and participates in counter-terrorism exercises, especially across [[Central Asia]] in bilateral and multilateral agreements.<ref name="RollandChinaSecurityOverseas" />{{rp|65}} <ref name="Heath2018">{{cite book |last=Heath |first=Timothy R. |title=China's Pursuit of Overseas Security |date=2018 |publisher=RAND Corporation |location=Santa Monica, California |page=26 |url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR2200/RR2271/RAND_RR2271.pdf |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428173748/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR2200/RR2271/RAND_RR2271.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|26}} <ref name="CarnegieMoscCent30Mar20China">{{cite web |last1=Umarov |first1=Temur |title=China Looms Large in Central Asia |url=https://carnegie.ru/commentary/81402 |website=Carnegie Moscow Center |access-date=28 April 2020 |language=en |date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502050050/https://carnegie.ru/commentary/81402 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="RollandChinaSecurityOverseas" />{{rp|15}}

Since 2011, the People's Armed Police has also conducted operations along the [[Mekong|Mekong river]] with the security forces of [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]] and [[Cambodia]]. These operations are aimed against organized crime.<ref name="RollandChinaSecurityOverseas" />{{rp|13}}

Since 2014, the People's Republic of China established a security cooperation with [[Tajikistan]] and [[Afghanistan]] on Afghan border, near the [[Wakhan Corridor]] and in [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region]]. The People's Armed Police is the main force for both bilateral and trilateral counterterrorism operations (mainly reconnaissance patrols in remote  areas), being deployed south of Shaymak; the PAP  has also conducted training for Tajik security forces.<ref name="RollandChinaSecurityOverseas">{{cite book |last1=Rolland |first1=Nadège (edited by) |last2=van der Kley |first2=Dirk |last3=Rolland |first3=Nadège |last4=Duchâtel |first4=Mathieu |last5=Chase |first5=Michael S. |last6=Gunness |first6=Kristen |last7=Xue |first7=Guifang (Julia) |last8=Pantucci |first8=Raffaello |last9=Arduino |first9=Alessandro |title=securing the belt and road initiativeChina's Evolving Military Engagement Along the Silk Roads |date=September 2019 |publisher=The National Bureau of Asian Research |pages=13, 14–15, 65, 84–87 |url=https://www.nbr.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/publications/sr80_securing_the_belt_and_road_sep2019.pdf |access-date=28 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701075517/https://www.nbr.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/publications/sr80_securing_the_belt_and_road_sep2019.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|13,84–87}}

== Headquarters and organization ==
The People's Armed Police Headquarters is the leading and commanding organ that directs and administers all the units and provides guidance to it. The PAP has a commander, a political commissar and several deputy commanders and deputy political commissars.<ref name="CAPF">{{cite book |url = http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/book/194421.htm |title = China's National Defense In 2006 |author = Information Office of the State Council |year = 2006 |location = Beijing |chapter = V. People's Armed Police Force |author-link = Information Office of the State Council |access-date = 22 September 2015 |chapter-url = http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/book/194480.htm |archive-date = 28 April 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150428130242/http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/book/194421.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Xinhua24Jul19">{{cite news |title = White paper gives overview of reshuffled armed forces - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url = http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/24/c_138253499.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190724055247/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/24/c_138253499.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = July 24, 2019 |access-date=4 October 2019 |website=www.xinhuanet.com |agency=Xinhua |date=24 July 2019}}</ref>

The People's Armed Police Headquarters, placed at Theater Command Grade, include five Departments directly under the Headquarters:<ref name="Wuthnow2019">{{cite book |url=https://inss.ndu.edu/Portals/82/China%20SP%2014%20Final%20for%20Web.pdf |title=China's Other Army: The People's Armed Police in an Era of Reform |last=Wuthnow |first=Joel |date=16 April 2019 |publisher=Institute for National Strategic Studies |location=Washington |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704193636/https://inss.ndu.edu/Portals/82/China%20SP%2014%20Final%20for%20Web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|10,32}}
* 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;<ref name="SCMP15Dec19">{{cite news |last1=Liu Zhen |title=China's armed police sees leadership overhaul under reform process |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3042049/chinas-armed-police-sees-leadership-overhaul-under-reform |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=South China Morning Post |date=15 December 2019 |location=Beijing |language=en |archive-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407070420/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3042049/chinas-armed-police-sees-leadership-overhaul-under-reform |url-status=live }}</ref>
** 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.<ref name="AllenChinaRanksTJF">{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Kenneth |title=China Announces Reform of Military Ranks |url=https://jamestown.org/program/china-announces-reform-military-ranks/ |newspaper=Jamestown |publisher=The Jamestown Foundation |access-date=13 October 2019 |date=30 January 2017 |archive-date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013094755/https://jamestown.org/program/china-announces-reform-military-ranks/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Training ==
The People's Armed Police has a number of training institutions, likely overseen by the Training Bureau of the Staff Department.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}}<ref name="AllenChinaRanksTJF" />

* People's Armed Police Academy (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
* People's Armed Police Engineering University (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
* People's Armed Police Command Academy (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
* People's Armed Police Logistics Academy (Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
* People's Armed Police Officers Academy (Deputy Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)
* People's Armed Police Special Police Academy (Deputy Corps Leader Grade, led by a Major General)

New constables of the People's Armed Police are drawn from the general military conscription pool, but they are trained in the People's Armed Police basic training units.<ref name="Blasko2012">{{cite book |last=Blasko |first = Dennis J. |title=Chinese Army today : tradition and transformation for the 21st century |date=2012 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York, NY |isbn=9780415783217 |page=28 |edition=2nd |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=G1SauJF3GqwC |access-date=9 October 2019 }}</ref>{{rp|28}}

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.<ref name="ZiYang24Mar16">{{cite journal |last=Zi |first=Yang |title=The Chinese People's Armed Police in a Time of Armed Forces Restructuring |journal=China Brief |date=24 March 2016 |volume=16 |issue=6 |url=https://jamestown.org/program/the-chinese-peoples-armed-police-in-a-time-of-armed-forces-restructuring/ |access-date=16 October 2019 |publisher=The Jamestown Foundation |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016184326/https://jamestown.org/program/the-chinese-peoples-armed-police-in-a-time-of-armed-forces-restructuring/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="LeCamps2019CPAPA">{{cite web |title=International Law Enforcement Training Programme, MPS |url=https://www.lecamps.org.cn/f/detail-ChinesePeople%27sArmedPoliceForceAcademy |website=www.lecamps.org.cn |access-date=13 December 2019 |date=2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213213119/https://www.lecamps.org.cn/f/detail-ChinesePeople%27sArmedPoliceForceAcademy |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="LeCamps2019CPAPA" /> The PAP Academy is a Corps Leader Grade command, and thus it is led by a major general who serves as Superintendent.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}}<ref name="AllenChinaRanksTJF" /> All graduates to the academy are commissioned into the PAP as Second Lieutenants (equivalent of Ensigns for those commissioned into the Coast Guard).

=== People's Armed Police Logistics Academy ===
The People's Armed Police Logistics Academy is a training body aimed to train People's Armed Police personnel in handling logistics. According to Unit Tracker, the university include subjects as applied economics, military and paramilitary logistics, as well as engineering.<ref name="Unit Tracker7Dec19">{{cite web |title=Logistics University of the People's Armed Police Force |url=https://unitracker.aspi.org.au/universities/logistics-university-of-the-peoples-armed-police-force/ |website=Chinese Defence Universities Tracker |access-date=8 December 2019 |language=en-AU |date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208144353/https://unitracker.aspi.org.au/universities/logistics-university-of-the-peoples-armed-police-force/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Logistics Academy is a Corps Leader Grade command, and thus it is led by a major general.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}}<ref name="AllenChinaRanksTJF" />

== Mobile organization ==
The mobile organization emerging from 2018 reforms consists of two large formations tasked with providing support to the whole national territory, should the need arise;<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|12–13}}

These two Mobile Contingents ({{zh|s=机动总队|p=Jīdòng Zǒngduì}}) have a similar structure and are considered [[People's Liberation Army's Unit Grade System|corps leader grade]] ({{zh|s=正军级|p=Zhèngjūnjí}}), one level higher than all of the provincial contingents other than Xinjiang and Beijing Commands. Units of the Mobile Contingents mostly originate from former 14 PAP's Divisions.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|13}} Each Mobile Contingent maintains a Staff, a Political Work Department and a Discipline Inspection Department at the Deputy Corps Leader Grade.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}}

The mobile Contingents, like their predecessor 14 Divisions, are mainly responsible for dealing with terrorism, violent crime, riots, and public security threats.<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|233}}

Being of Corps leader grade, Mobile Contingents are led by a Major General each.<ref name="AllenChinaRanksTJF" />

=== 1st Mobile Contingent ===
{{main|:zh:中国人民武装警察部队第一机动总队}}
The 1st Mobile Contingent is based in [[Shijiazhuang]], [[Hebei]], south of [[Beijing]]. The Contingent covers northern and central China, including [[Beijing]].<ref name="IISS21Jun19">{{cite web |last1=Boyd |first1=Henry |last2=Nouwens |first2=Meia |title=China's People's Armed Police: reorganized and refocused |url=https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2019/06/china-pap |website=www.iiss.org |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |access-date=3 October 2019 |date=21 June 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926200632/https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2019/06/china-pap |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1st Mobile Contingent consists of:<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|14}}
* 9 mobile detachments ([[Panjin]], [[Liaoning]]; [[Shenyang]], Liaoning; [[Tongliao|Bayisingtu]], [[Inner Mongolia]]; [[Tianjin]]; [[Dingzhou]], Hebei; [[Baoding]], Hebei; [[Puzhong]], [[Shanxi]]; [[Zhengzhou]], [[Henan]]; [[Pingliang]], [[Gansu]]);
* 3 Special Operations detachments (Beijing; Tianjin; Shijiazhuang);
* 2 Transportation detachments (Beijing and [[Xi’an]], Shaanxi);
* 1 Engineering/Chemical Defence detachment ([[Huludao]], Liaoning);
* 1 Helicopter detachment ([[Puzhong]], Shanxi).

=== 2nd Mobile Contingent ===
{{main|:zh:中国人民武装警察部队第二机动总队}}
The 2nd Mobile Contingent is headquartered in [[Fuzhou]], with units concentrated in [[Fujian]] and surrounding provinces along the coast (covering eastern and southern China).<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|13}} The 2nd Mobile Contingent consists of:<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|14}}
* 9 mobile detachments (Wuyi, [[Jiangsu]]; [[Putian]], [[Fujian]]; [[Guangzhou]]; [[Foshan]], [[Guangdong]]; [[Mengzi City|Mengzi]], [[Yunnan]]; [[Nanchong]], [[Sichuan]]);
* 2 Special Operations detachments (Guangzhou and [[Huzhou]], [[Zhejiang]]);
* 3 Transportation detachments ([[Hefei]], [[Anhui]]; [[Mianyang]], Sichuan; [[Linzhi]], [[Tibet]]);
* 1 Engineering/Chemical Defense detachment (Fuzhou, Fujian);
* 1 Helicopter detachment ([[Chengdu]], Sichuan).
The incumbent Commander is Major General Chen Hongwu, while the Political Commissar is Major General Yang Zhenguo.

== Internal Guard Corps ==
The People's Armed Police is not subordinated to the local government authorities. Instead, the People's Armed Police is composed of echelons corresponding to all government levels, from the [[Provinces of China|Provincial]] (including Autonomous Regions or Municipalities directly under the central government) to the [[Townships of China|Township]] levels; the territorial organization is that of the PAP Internal Guard Corps ({{zh|s=内卫部队|p=Nèiwèi Bùduì}}).<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|10}}

The thirty-one Internal Guard Contingents are responsible for security duty of important political and economic facilities and government buildings at all levels (including party and state organizations, foreign embassies, and consulates), municipal armed patrol, and security duty for senior government officials.

=== Provincial level ===
Within each [[Provinces of China|provincial level division]], an IGC Contingent ({{zh|s=总队|p=Zǒngduì}}), a formation equivalent in rank to a [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] Division,<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|116}} is stationed, with the exception of [[Macau]] and [[Hong Kong]].<ref name="Jamestown24Mar16PAP" /> The provincial command is deputy corps leader grade ({{zh|s=副军级|p=Fùjūnjí}}), with the exception of [[Xinjiang]] and [[Beijing]] Commands, which are senior in rank ({{zh|s=正军级|p=Zhèngjūnjí|l=corps leader grade}}). A provincial Contingent is deemed to be between 15,000 and 30,000 troops strong.<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" />

The main tasks of the provincial commands are to undertake fixed target duty and urban armed patrol missions, to ensure the security of important national goals, as force multipliers during emergency situations, whether be natural or man made, to maintain national security and social stability, to support national economic construction and to carry out rescue and disaster relief missions in tandem with other organizations.

Each Contingent maintains a Staff, a Political Work Department and a Discipline Inspection Department. Beijing and Xinjiang Contingents maintain these departments at the Deputy Corps Leader Grade, while the other 30 Contingents maintain them at the Division Leader Grade.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}} All provincial-level Contingents maintain "Duty Detachments" ({{zh|s=执勤支队|p=Zhíqín Zhīduì}}), which perform routine duties, including protecting government compounds, in order to be able to complement the Public Security apparatus in case of the latter's failure to handle riots and other forms of mass incidents.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|22}}

Alongside the territorial forces, units roughly equivalent to PLA ground force regiments/brigades, some of which formerly subordinated to the disbanded 14 mobile divisions and some already established within the provincial commands, have been renamed "Mobile Detachments" ({{zh|s=机动支队|p=Jīdòng Zhīduì}}).<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|233}} Several of these Mobile Detachments are assigned to the provincial-level commands, in order to provide local authorities of rapid reaction forces. 26 provincial-level subdivisions have 1 Mobile Detachment in addition to the provincial force; seven subdivisions instead have more than one:<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|12–13,36}}
* [[Xinjiang]]: 7 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Beijing]]: 4 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Sichuan]]: 4 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Yunnan]]: 3 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Tibet]]: 3 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Qinghai]]: 2 Mobile Detachments;
* [[Shanghai]]: 2 Mobile Detachments.
Generally, western provinces with a large non-Han population have more Mobile Detachments than those in China's interior.<ref name="CarrdusPolicingETurk">{{cite web |last1=Carrdus |first1=Ben |title=Policing East Turkistan |url=https://uhrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Policing-Explainer_2023-12-12.pdf |website=uhrp.org |publisher=Uyghur Human Rights Projects |access-date=3 January 2024 |location=Washington, DC |page=16 |date=13 December 2023 |archive-date=16 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216193223/https://uhrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Policing-Explainer_2023-12-12.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|16}}

=== Lower levels ===
The IGC Contingents deployed at the provincial levels are further downsized to regiments/brigades, battalions and companies in battle order, which are stationed in a number of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the headquarters. All the contingents have elementary command colleges under them.<ref name="CAPF" />

A PAP Detachment ({{zh|s=支队|p=Zhīduì}}, equivalent to a PLA regiment/brigade) is stationed at the [[Prefectures of the People's Republic of China|prefectural level]], a public security battalion ({{zh|s=大队|p=Dàduì}}, equivalent to a PLA battalion) at the [[Counties of China|county level]], and a public security company ({{zh|s=中队|p=Zhōngduì}}, equivalent to a PLA company) at the township level.<ref name="Guo2012" />{{rp|234}}<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|7}}

== Border Defense Corps ==
Prior to the 2018 reform, the People's Armed Police Border Defense Corps ({{zh|s=边防部队|p=Biānfáng Bùdùi}}) guarded China's land and sea borders, as well as its ports and airports. Its main responsibilities were the administration of border and coastal public security, ports and border inspection and surveillance, performing patrols and surveillance activities in areas adjacent to [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau|Macao]], as well as patrols and surveillance activities along the demarcation line of the [[Gulf of Tonkin|Beibu Gulf]] and the prevention of and crack-down on illegal and criminal acts in border and coastal areas, such as illegal border crossing, smuggling and drug trafficking.<ref name="APF" />

After the 2018 reform, Port and Seaport detachments of Border Defense Corps have been transferred into the Ministry of Public Security, whereas responsibility of guarding land borders was completely handed over to [[People's Liberation Army Ground Force|PLAGF]].<ref name="Ni2018"/><ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|15}}

== China Coast Guard ==
{{main|China Coast Guard}}

The Chinese People's Armed Police Force Coast Guard Corps, also abbreviated as [[China Coast Guard]] is the agency for maritime search and rescue and law enforcement in the territorial waters of the [[China|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 (China)|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.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|32}}

In June 2018, China Coast Guard was granted maritime rights and law enforcement akin civilian law enforcement agencies in order to carry out contrast of illegal activities, keep peace and order, as well as safeguarding security at sea, when performing duties related to the use of marine resources, protection of marine environment, regulation of fishery, and anti-smuggling.<ref name="NPCObs22Jun18">{{cite news |last = Wei |first = Changhao |title = NPCSC Defers Vote on E-Commerce Law, Grants Law Enforcement Powers to Military-Controlled Coast Guard |url = https://npcobserver.com/2018/06/22/npcsc-defers-vote-on-e-commerce-law-grants-law-enforcement-powers-to-military-controlled-coast-guard/ |access-date = 16 October 2019 |website = NPC Observer |date = 22 June 2018 |archive-date = 29 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201129130557/https://npcobserver.com/2018/06/22/npcsc-defers-vote-on-e-commerce-law-grants-law-enforcement-powers-to-military-controlled-coast-guard/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

== Special police units ==
{{main|Special Police Unit of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force}}
The People's Armed Police maintains several Special Police Units. They were established in Beijing in early 1980s and in 1983 the first of them was transferred to the People's Armed Police as the People's Armed Police Special Police Group. In 1985 the Group became People's Armed Police Special Police School and, in 2002, it became the People's Armed Police Special Police Academy.<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|123}}<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF">{{cite web |title=People's Armed Police (PAP) Special Operations Forces |url=https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/elite-special-forces/chinese-elite-special-forces/peoples-armed-police-pap-special-operations-forces/ |website=Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute |access-date=8 October 2019 |date=13 June 2017 |archive-date=23 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623075541/https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinstitute.com/elite-special-forces/chinese-elite-special-forces/peoples-armed-police-pap-special-operations-forces/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, the Snow Wolf Commando Unit, since 2007 Snow Leopard Commando Unit, was established in Beijing as the second special police unit.<ref name="Sun2009" />{{rp|123}}<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" /> According to Joel Wuthnow, the Snow Leopard Commando Unit was moved from the Beijing Contingent to the 2nd Mobile Contingent in 2018.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|36}}

Special police units have a total of six Regiment-level Detachments. Of these six Detachments, three are under the 1st Mobile Contingent, two detachments are assigned to the 2nd Mobile Contingent. One Regiment-level Detachment is under the Xinjiang provincial command.<ref name="USDODREP2023CHINA">{{cite book |title=Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2023 |date=2022 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |page=84 |url=https://media.defense.gov/2023/Oct/19/2003323409/-1/-1/1/2023-MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA.PDF |access-date=7 April 2024}}{{rp|84}}</ref>

The special police units are tasked to carry out counter terrorism missions, riot control, anti-hijacking and bomb disposal.<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" />

=== Organization ===
Special Police Units are organized and placed at the Provincial level and at national level.<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" />

The national-level Special Police Unit is the People's Armed Police Special Police Academy, reporting to the People's Armed Police Headquarters. The academy has both educational and operational roles. On one hand, it is tasked to provide courses in special reconnaissance and special police operations; on the other hand, it has to carry out counter terrorism missions, riot control, anti-hijacking and bomb disposal. The main operational unit of the People's Armed Police Special Police Academy is the Falcon Unit.<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" /> In addition, the 1st and 2nd Mobile Contingents maintain a total of 5 Special Operations Detachments.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|12–13}}

Each provincial-level Contingent ({{zh|s=总队|p=Zǒngduì}}) establishes and maintains special police units as part of its own territorial organization.<ref name="BootCampPAPSOF" /> As of 2019, there are three known special police units within the People's Armed Police:<ref name="HT21Aug19">{{cite news |last1=Sutirtho Patranobis |title=China now has commandos on horseback to tackle terror in Xinjiang |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-now-has-commandos-on-horseback-to-tackle-terror-in-xinjiang/story-GB1uduXmiTzojY17BfTKRJ.html |access-date=8 October 2019 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=21 August 2019 |language=en-IN |archive-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007142739/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-now-has-commandos-on-horseback-to-tackle-terror-in-xinjiang/story-GB1uduXmiTzojY17BfTKRJ.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PLADaily21Aug19">{{cite news |last = Huang |first = Panyue |title = New counter-terror force in Xinjiang - China Military |url = http://english.pladaily.com.cn/view/2019-08/21/content_9596242.htm |access-date = 8 October 2019 |newspaper = PLA Daily |date = 21 August 2019 |archive-date = 8 October 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191008094619/http://english.pladaily.com.cn/view/2019-08/21/content_9596242.htm |url-status = live }}</ref>
* Falcon Commando Unit: Beijing;
* [[Snow Leopard Commando Unit]]: Guangzhou;
* [[Mountain Eagle Commando Unit]]: Xinjiang.
For what regards Special Operations detachments of the Mobile Contingents, some of the specialized units may have drawn from the provincial Contingents.<ref name="Wuthnow2019" />{{rp|36}}

== 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.<ref name="CAPF" />

== Equipment ==
In response to the needs of the People's Armed Police, the service provides for the use of many types of weapons. Special Operation Forces of People's Armed Police uses various kind of weapons according to necessity of missions.

* [[Sidearm (weapon)|Service sidearm]]: [[QSZ-92]]<ref name="TNIChineseGuns" />
* [[Assault rifle]]: [[QBZ-95]], [[QBZ-191]], [[Norinco CQ|Type CQ]]<ref name="TNIChineseGuns">{{cite web |last1=Mizokami |first1=Kyle |title=The Amazing Way China Has Modernized Its Military—and Its Guns |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/amazing-way-china-has-modernized-its-military%E2%80%94and-its-guns-114286 |website=The National Interest |access-date=7 April 2020 |language=en |date=16 January 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810054548/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/amazing-way-china-has-modernized-its-military%E2%80%94and-its-guns-114286 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Issue |last2=V6N2 |last3=Volume 6 |title=The Chinese CQA – Small Arms Defense Journal |url=https://sadefensejournal.com/the-chinese-cqa/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Submachine gun]]: [[QCW-05]]<ref name="TNIChineseGuns" />

In addition, the People's Armed Police makes use of remotely-controlled technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced surveillance technology and bomb disposal robots, as well as intelligent unmanned systems.<ref name="Boyd21Jun19">{{cite web |last = Boyd |first = Henry |title = China's People's Armed Police: reorganised and refocused |url = https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2019/06/china-pap |publisher = [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] |access-date = 16 October 2019 |date = 21 June 2019 |archive-date = 25 October 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191025054449/https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2019/06/china-pap |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="ChinaMil6Nov19">{{cite news |last = Li |first = Jiayao |title = Chinese armed police force launches intelligent unmanned system challenge - China Military |url = http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-11/06/content_9670243.htm |access-date = 1 December 2019 |website = eng.chinamil.com.cn |date = 6 November 2019 |archive-date = 7 November 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191107155217/http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-11/06/content_9670243.htm |url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Helicopters ===
* [[Harbin Z-20]]

== 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 ===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!Title
!武警上将 <br /> Wu jing [[shang jiang]]
!武警中将 <br /> Wu jing [[zhong jiang]]
!武警少将 <br /> Wu jing [[Jiang (rank)|Shao jiang]]
!武警大校 <br /> Wu jing [[da xiao]]
!武警上校 <br /> Wu jing [[shang xiao]]
!武警中校 <br /> Wu jing [[zhong xiao]]
!武警少校 <br /> Wu jing [[shao xiao]]
!武警上尉 <br /> Wu jing [[shang wei]]
!武警中尉 <br /> Wu jing [[zhong wei]]
!武警少尉 <br /> Wu jing [[shao wei]]
!武警学员 <br /> Wu jing [[xue yuan]]
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Usual Translation
![[General officer|General]]<br />(OF-9)
![[Lieutenant general]]<br />(OF-8)
![[Major general]]<br />(OF-7)
![[Senior Colonel|Senior colonel]]<br />(OF-6)
![[Colonel]]<br />(OF-5)
![[Lieutenant colonel]]<br />(OF-4)
![[Major (rank)|Major]]<br />(OF-3)
![[Captain (army)|Captain]]<br />(OF-2)
![[First Lieutenant|1st lieutenant]]<br />(OF-1)
![[Second lieutenant|2nd lieutenant]]<br />(OF-1)
![[Officer cadet]]<br />(OF-D)
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Shoulder Insignia
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0720-GEN.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0719-LTG.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0718-MG.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0717-SNC.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0716-COL.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0715-LTC.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0714-MAJ.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0713-CPT.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0712-1LT.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-0711-2LT.png|60px]]
| align="center" width="5%" | [[File:CAPF-0710-CDT.png|60px]]
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Collar Insignia
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0720-GEN.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0719-LTG.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0718-MG.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0717-SNC.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0716-COL.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0715-LTC.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0714-MAJ.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0713-CPT.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0712-1LT.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="9%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0711-2LT.png|70px]]
| align="center" width="5%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0710-CDT.png|70px]]
|}

=== Non-commissioned officers and enlisted ===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
!Title
!武警一级警士长 <br /> Wu jing yi ji jing shi zhang
!武警二级警士长 <br /> Wu jing er ji jing shi zhang
!武警三级警士长 <br /> Wu jing san ji jing shi zhang
!武警四级警士长 <br /> Wu jing si ji jing shi zhang
!武警上士 <br /> Wu jing shang shi
!武警中士 <br /> Wu jing zhong shi
!武警下士 <br /> Wu jing xia shi
!武警上等兵 <br /> Wu jing shang deng bing
!武警列兵 <br /> Wu jing lie bing
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Usual Translation
![[Sergeant major|Master Sergeant 1st class]]<br />(OR-9)
![[First sergeant|Master Sergeant 2nd class]]<br />(OR-8)
![[Master sergeant|Master Sergeant 3rd class]]<br />(OR-7)
![[Sergeant first class|Master sergeant 4th class]]<br />(OR-6)
![[Staff sergeant]]<br />(OR-5)
![[Sergeant]]<br />(OR-4)
![[Corporal]]<br />(OR-3)
![[Private first class|Private 1st class]]<br />(OR-2)
![[Private (rank)|Private]]<br />(OR-1)
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Shoulder Insignia
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0709-1CSGT.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0708-2CSGT.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0707-3CSGT.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0706-4CSGT.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0705-SSG.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0704-SGT.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0703-CPL.png|60px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-0702-PFC.png|60px]]
| width="10%"| [[File:CAPF-0701-PVT.png|60px]]
|-style="text-align:center;"
!Collar Insignia
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0709-1CSGT.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0708-2CSGT.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0707-3CSGT.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0706-4CSGT.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0705-SSG.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0704-SGT.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0703-CPL.png|70px]]
| width="10%" | [[File:CAPF-Collar-0702-PFC.png|70px]]
| width="10%"| [[File:CAPF-Collar-0701-PVT.png|70px]]
|}

=== Historical rank systems ===
==== Type 55 PSF-PLA uniform ====

;Officers
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''{{flagicon image|People's Armed Police Flag.svg}} PSF-PLA''' (1955–1965)
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA dà jiàng Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA shàng jiàng Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA zhōng jiàng Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA shào jiàng Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA dà xiào Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA shàng xiào Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA zhōng xiào Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA shào xiào Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA dà wèi Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:PLA shàng wèi Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:PLA zhōng wèi Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:PLA shào wèi Type 55.svg|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:PLA zhǔn wèi Type 55.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| [[Four-star rank|General]]<br />{{lang|zh|大将}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel general]]<br />{{lang|zh|上将}}
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant general]]<br />{{lang|zh|中将}}
| colspan=2| [[Major general]]<br />{{lang|zh|少将}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel commandant]]<br />{{lang|zh|大校}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel]]<br />{{lang|zh|上校}}
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant colonel]]<br />{{lang|zh|中校}}
| colspan=2| [[Major (rank)|Major]]<br />{{lang|zh|少校}}
| colspan=2| [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]<br />{{lang|zh|大尉}}
| colspan=3| [[Senior lieutenant]]<br />{{lang|zh|上尉}}
| colspan=3| [[First lieutenant]]<br />{{lang|zh|中尉}}
| colspan=3| [[Second lieutenant]]<br />{{lang|zh|少尉}}
| colspan=3| [[Warrant officer]]<br />{{lang|zh|准尉}}
|-  align="center" 
! Collar insignia (adopted 1958)
| colspan=2|[[File:General of the Army collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:General collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Lieutenant General collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Major General collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Senior Colonel collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Colonel collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Lieutenant Colonel collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Major collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=2|[[File:Captain collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=3|[[File:Senior Lieutenant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=3|[[File:Lieutenant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=3|[[File:Junior Lieutenant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]]
| colspan=3|[[File:Warrant Officer collar insignia (PRC).jpg|80px]] 
|}

;Non-commissioned officers and enlisted
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
!
!colspan=12| Non-Commissioned Officers
!colspan=8| Enlisted personnel
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''{{flagicon image|People's Armed Police Flag.svg}} People's Armed Police'''<br> (1955–1965)
| colspan=6| [[File:Senior Sergeant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|150px]]
| colspan=4| [[File:Sergeant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|150px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Junior Sergeant collar insignia (PRC).jpg|150px]]
| colspan=6| [[File:Private First Class collar insignia (PRC).jpg|150px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Private collar insignia (PRC).jpg|150px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=6| [[Staff Sergeant]]<br />({{lang|zh|上士}})
| colspan=4| [[Sergeant]]<br />({{lang|zh|中士}})
| colspan=2| [[Corporal]]<br />({{lang|zh|下士}})
| colspan=6| [[Private first class|Private 1st class]]<br />({{lang|zh|上等兵}})
| colspan=2| [[Private (rank)|Private]]<br />({{lang|zh|列兵}})
|}

==== Type 88 PAP ====
;Officers
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''{{flagicon image|People's Armed Police Flag.svg}} People's Armed Police''' (1988–1994)
| colspan=2| [[File:Yi Ji Shang Jiang(PLAGF OF-11 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shang Jiang (PLAGF OF-10 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Zhong Jiang (PLAGF OF-9 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shao Jiang (PLAGF OF-8 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Da Xiao (PLAGF OF-7 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shang Xiao (PLAGF OF-6 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Zhong Xiao (PLAGF OF-5 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shao Xiao (PLAGF OF-1 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:Shang Wei (PLAGF OF-3 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:Zhong Wei (PLAGF OF-2 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:Shao Wei (PLAGF OF-1 Type 88).gif|50px]]
| colspan=3| [[File:Xue Yuan (PLAGF OF-D Type 88).gif|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=2| [[Four-star rank|General]]<br />{{lang|zh|大将}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel general]]<br />{{lang|zh|上将}}
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant general]]<br />{{lang|zh|中将}}
| colspan=2| [[Major general]]<br />{{lang|zh|少将}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel commandant]]<br />{{lang|zh|大校}}
| colspan=2| [[Colonel]]<br />{{lang|zh|上校}}
| colspan=2| [[Lieutenant colonel]]<br />{{lang|zh|中校}}
| colspan=2| [[Major (rank)|Major]]<br />{{lang|zh|少校}}
| colspan=2| [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]<br />{{lang|zh|大尉}}
| colspan=3| [[First lieutenant]]<br />{{lang|zh|中尉}}
| colspan=3| [[Second lieutenant]]<br />{{lang|zh|少尉}}
| colspan=3| [[Officer cadet]]<br />{{lang|zh|学员}}
|}

;Non-commissioned officers and enlisted
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
!
!colspan=20| Non-Commissioned Officers
!colspan=8| Enlisted personnel
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''{{flagicon image|People's Armed Police Flag.svg}} People's Armed Police'''<br> (1988–1994)
| colspan=6| [[File:PLA jūn shì zhǎng Type 88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA zhuān yè jūn shì Type_88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=6| [[File:PLA shàng shì Type 88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=4| [[File:PLA zhōng shì Type 88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA xià shì Type 88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=6| [[File:PLA shàng děng bīng Type 88.jpg|50px]]
| colspan=2| [[File:PLA liè bīng Type 88.jpg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=6| [[Sergeant major]]<br />({{lang|zh|一级军士长}})
| colspan=2| [[Master sergeant]]<br />({{lang|zh|二级军士长}})
| colspan=6| [[Staff Sergeant]]<br />({{lang|zh|上士}})
| colspan=4| [[Sergeant]]<br />({{lang|zh|中士}})
| colspan=2| [[Corporal]]<br />({{lang|zh|下士}})
| colspan=6| [[Private first class|Private 1st class]]<br />({{lang|zh|上等兵}})
| colspan=2| [[Private (rank)|Private]]<br />({{lang|zh|列兵}})
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|China}}
* [[Gendarmerie]]
* [[Republic of China (Taiwan) Military Police]]

=== International equivalents ===
* [[National Gendarmerie]] - France
* [[National Guard of Russia|Russian National Guard]] - Russia
* [[Mobile Brigade Corps]] - Indonesia

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|People's Armed Police}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Commanders of the People's Armed Police}}
{{China national security}}
{{People's Liberation Army}}
{{China topics}}

[[Category:People's Armed Police| ]]
[[Category:Military of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1982]]
[[Category:Gendarmerie|China]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organizations based in China]]
[[Category:Paramilitary police]]