The Chinese government has increased the amount of special
subsidies for Red Army veterans, a group of the oldest retirees
from the military, according to an annual report recently released
by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Last year, the average amount of pensions for these retired Red
Army soldiers reached 10,250 yuan (about US$1,280) per year, an
increase of 6.3 percent over the figure of the previous year.
It is part of the government's effort to care for those who
should receive preferential treatment, including the veterans of
the Red Army, also known as the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red
Army, which is the predecessor of the Chinese People's Liberation
Army (PLA).
In 2005, the Chinese government gave a total of 14.36 billion
yuan (approximately US$1.8 billion), up nearly 38 percent, in
subsidies for different groups of disabled ex-soldiers and the
families of those army men who sacrificed their lives during
revolutionary war years.
Last year, the government issued new regulations for injured
military personnel, which unifies the subsidies for those who are
either in service or retired.
As of the end of 2005, China had 4,603,000 people who received
government subsidies for injuries, including 2,145,000
ex-soldiers,2,681 Red Army veterans, 76,000 people who had been
confirmed to be former members of the Red Army, and 885,000
civilians who had become disabled by battle-related injuries.
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)