China's armed police moved under military control

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING (AA) - China's 660,000-strong paramilitary police force is to be brought under the control of the military, state media said Wednesday.

From Jan. 1, the People's Armed Police Force will no longer report to the State Council but come under the control of the Central Military Commission (CMC), headed by President Xi Jinping as commander-in-chief.

Reporting the decision of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xinhua news agency said: “The armed police will be a division under the CMC only and will no longer be listed under the State Council.”

Since taking power five years ago, Xi has overseen the modernization of China's armed forces, the world's largest military, while consolidating his power over them.

The armed police serve as a backup for the military in times of war. Internally its policing role includes putting down protests, counterterrorism, border defense and firefighting.

Xinhua did not give any further detail on the new reporting structure or explain the reasons behind the decision.