Chinese military mulls new policies to seek educated recruits

BEIJING - The Chinese military is appealing to qualified young recruits with a string of preferential policies, including financial aid and easy access to employment after service.

The favorable policies target graduates and university students, according to a document on recruitment released by the department of defense mobilization under the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of Education Monday.

Each university student may obtain a certain amount in subsidies once they have been recruited, and the soldiers will be eligible to take exams for employment in state organs, public institutions or state-owned enterprises after their military service, it said.

Meanwhile, university student recruits will continue to enjoy tuition waivers, loan reductions, and improved chances to seek master's degrees, among other benefits, the document added.

Military recruiters, education departments and media organizations nationwide are also required to promote the recruitment drive to strengthen young people' patriotism and help them understand the army.

This year's recruitment targeting university students has started and will last until the end of September.