TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s Central Military Commission and its leader, Xi Jinping (習近平), this week announced that China will implement a new law for recruiting soldiers during wartime, heightening fears of a potential invasion of Taiwan.

The new regulations are aimed at “optimizing conscription procedures” while prioritizing the conscription of veterans with experience in the armed forces. Additionally, on Tuesday (April 13), Xi called on China’s military forces to prepare for “actual combat,” as reported by AFP.



Most analysts see the move as legal preparation for an anticipated conflict with Taiwan. The updated guidelines comprise 11 chapters with 74 articles in total, and will come into force on May 1, reported NDTV.



A Chinese military official quoted by NDTV said the amendments to the conscription law will “ensure the normal replacement of troops and supplementary needs of soldiers in wartime.” The law also says the Central Military Commission may make additional adjustments to recruitment methods and practices as it sees fit.

News that China plans to amend its conscription law comes less than a week after it carried out naval exercises around Taiwan, which simulated a naval blockade. The recent military drills were seen as a reaction to the meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held last week in California.