Could non-chinese join PLA?

The things that most interesting to some of the above replys (and post initiator):

I don't know how Finnish armed forces equipment "outdated", 90% (percentage droping, due to reform of PLA) of PLA soldiers do not have fired a shot (or even touched a rifle) throughout his / her whole service, that's another one thing you need to WITHSTAND; Equipment you are issued to use (or operate), maybe date back to 1980s, 1970s; --- that, SHALL NOT be a problem for you to WITHSTAND; Posting you are assigned, 99% chances have no chances for you to show what your sacrifice is.(Percentage NEVER change, due to the PLA doctrine, or even "Chinese doctrine"). The guy interested into PLA weapons R&D? That's not soldiers job, that scientific geek's job, like any other military-independent country of this planet (which, not much).

Back to the citizenship question the would-be-PLA-soldier interested: Citizenship do not give away easily in China, especially when your next step is to go in any governmental body, PLA is one of it. They do not need to write black & white to reject you "this is the regulation.", but reject you by administration. China got the largest would-be-military-personnel reserve, 17,18 years old Chinese boys fight to get recruited while many rejected simply because there is enough. (even enough "tough ones", remark). You want outstanding these competitors? (you have only once chance, next year, another bunch of 18 years old fresh boys you faces) Do somthing "greatly" better the China's tomorrow. How great is "greatly"? Help enough oversea Chinese citizens for they to move the Chinese embassy to write reference letter for you - if you are not planning to take out Chinese defects overseas and outwit who protects them, and live to tell the storey.

Get a China citizenship have nowhere close to get you recruited into PLA, that's the stastic fact, even now you are at a fairplay ground, you need to outstanding all the 18 years old kids in the area you live, who have the same determination of yours. - No shortcut, a white guy bribe the officer in charge, is not a good idea at all.

I believe you get the rough idea of "earn the heart, earn the blood" part of PLA life in #102, you just need to try harder for they are not prepared to like you as they (we) like Dr. Norman Bethune - if you ever get recruited into PLA.

Otherwise, some years later, this forum would just have another user who claim to be treated how unfair by the China governmnet and Chinese people. That's why I try to talk you down.

You can‘t imagine how serious the corruption of PLA is ！

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bd popeye super moderator

It sounds that you've already known it.Have you ever been in PLA?Or did you SEE the "corruption" of PLA?

echo said:

You can‘t imagine how serious the corruption of PLA is ！

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Ilovehuanhuan said:

It sounds that you've already known it.Have you ever been in PLA?Or did you SEE the "corruption" of PLA?

Click to expand...

And here comes a bunch of new members registered the same day, as fresh as I am, talking about the "usual" dark side of the nation this forum concerns about.

You know what, for the sake of talking down this highly spirited Finnish boy, I agree with you guys. This Finnish guy won't survive a week in the PLA. There is nothing "cool" of serving the red army (the people of this nation has a RED heart, which some of your guys called the "Reds"), nor "Fancy Equipment" the national parade presented to the whole world only "for show"; the comradship only exists when the guys whole family is also at stake of the nation's fate (that, you are considering a countryman as Chinese); and finally comes the Red Fonted "corruption" of what ever you guys talk about this nation.

Guys, don't try to go to PLA, for your own sake, that's another planet which you do not familiar.

Red___Sword said:

And here comes a bunch of new members registered the same day, as fresh as I am, talking about the "usual" dark side of the nation this forum concerns about.

You know what, for the sake of talking down this highly spirited Finnish boy, I agree with you guys. This Finnish guy won't survive a week in the PLA. There is nothing "cool" of serving the red army (the people of this nation has a RED heart, which some of your guys called the "Reds"), nor "Fancy Equipment" the national parade presented to the whole world only "for show"; the comradship only exists when the guys whole family is also at stake of the nation's fate (that, you are considering a countryman as Chinese); and finally comes the Red Fonted "corruption" of what ever you guys talk about this nation.

Guys, don't try to go to PLA, for your own sake, that's another planet which you do not familiar.

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For me, it's quite exciting to read about these things, both the points you make about conditions and the spirit of the PLA, and also about the translation and the discussions about this thread in Chinese language forums.

Welcome here, and please take a look at other threads. There are people from the whole world here, and people with every sort political inclination and perspective. Most threads discuss "fancy equipment" and a smaller number discuss matters of international policy.

If you are offended by something you read, please calm down before you answer, and take note as well that many here may be equally upset by the very same thing which offends you. You will not be alone, so it is best to use reason. This is the nature of discussions where there are feelings and perspectives which are so totally opposite to each other.

For one thing, if they won't even allow those from Hong Kong S.A.R. and Macau S.A.R. to join the army, no way that non-chinese citizens would be admitted.

But most of all, PLA is "the Party's army"...yes, in China the line between the CCP and the government is pretty much non-existent. Of which the CCP is even harder to enroll than civil servant.

Even the PLA don't take all comers, these days they're known to be picky, university graduate are preferred, high physical standard is preferred, and there're background checks not just you but on your family as well.

Of course, you need to know Chinese in the first place, there ain't nobody going to teach you then. There're outfits that'd arrange old-dogs to buddy with recruits who speak the same dialect but that's for the minority race only.

Red Moon said:

For me, it's quite exciting to read about these things, both the points you make about conditions and the spirit of the PLA, and also about the translation and the discussions about this thread in Chinese language forums.

Welcome here, and please take a look at other threads. There are people from the whole world here, and people with every sort political inclination and perspective. Most threads discuss "fancy equipment" and a smaller number discuss matters of international policy.

If you are offended by something you read, please calm down before you answer, and take note as well that many here may be equally upset by the very same thing which offends you. You will not be alone, so it is best to use reason. This is the nature of discussions where there are feelings and perspectives which are so totally opposite to each other.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your rational reply. I am not seeking challenge around, visiting this forum from time to time, only registered to interact with this cute guy.

But man, seriously. I know Chinese people who never touched a gun (and have no chance to go to PLA), CLAIMING they are dying to go to French Legion, just to get a chance to shoot. If the French Legion giveing the impression to the world ONLY because they can teach you shoot, I feel sorry for they. You know, pirates in Somali also provide you a chance to shoot. If the only perk the US Marine can provide you (in your impression), is that they got guns attached with tactical gears and "Get Away Pass" from raping local girls where you stationed... I'd be sorry for the US Marine too.

I surely don't want feel sorry because the PLA gives someone (hopefully, friendly) the impression "We got big guns!", instead of "No matter how you claim tough you are, we beat you up." kind of spirit. As I said, we don't have problem with people have other color of skins, we do have problem (of give a damn) for people having the "wrong" spirit. (Right or Wrong, talk freely you want, Chinese ppl are too busy to keep up the pace of self-development to care)

One more example, there is this German guy, interviewed by CCTV (1 or 2 or 4, don't remember). He finds interesting of Chinese culture, by reading more (keyword, read), he knows about "Lei Feng's spirit" 雷锋精神, (who's he? "Baidu" it) the modesty interpret of "INTERNATIONAL SPIRIT" of a normal PLA soldier, who devoted his entire life to "doing good things" for people he met. This German guy deeply moved by this spirit, finding his own way to the most undevelopded area of China, simply "doing good deeds", for the best of his 8 years (till headhunted" by CCTV). What he did is not religious service, not NGO service, not "do something at 3rd world country, and get a good looking resume.", no salary at all, and even without a legal residence permit... by the time the whole nation knows him, he is as common as the "blue ant" you see on BBC or CNN. Bureaucracy finds him trouble after he is on TV, and the common ppl sees how he "bleed" for the countryman, thoudsands shamed for the Lei Feng's spirit being reminded in such an odd way, by people from another nation, more raised up to "pick up" the spirit we lost, and each finds his own way to "bleed aside" this guy, or anyother people in need.

That's how the Chinese people defines a "Countryman", that's how Chinese people gives a damn of non-Chinese.

Just took some time to read all the non-directly related posts in this post. (Chinese prefer to call the whole post a "building", and each post is a "floor".)

The comradeship greetings:

指挥官：同志们好！
受阅部队：首长好！
指挥官：同志们辛苦了！
受阅部队：为人民服务！

Any decent armed forces have thier own motto, like "Super Fi" for the USMC; PLA, inherited from the Red Army, have the sole concept of "Serving the people", by serving, is "bleeding" anyway possible to serve, not the "customer service" girl sitting behind a desk, check out 5 minutes before time's up. And by recognizing that kind of "bleeding", that kind of serving, the comradeship DO NOT bound by ranks (I do not being greater than you only because I have a higher rank).

So the comradeship greetings are to show that kind of sacrifice spirit, and the "profession differences" instead of "ranking differences" unification spirit, the greetings is in such a way:

Commander: Greetings Comrades!
Parading Soldier: Greetings Commader!

Take GREAT note that, "comrade" and "commader" have NO ranking differences, "Rank" is not the idea of INTERNATIONAL. And the way they "greeting", is equal.

Commander: You've been hardship, comrades!
Parading Soldier: (Only to) Serving the People!

Take note that these four sentences, are in such a way of "informal", it is like an old dog acknowledges the rookies: "Well done, lad", "Oath welly fulfilled.", and proudly acknowledges:"I am satisfied to have people like you to inherit the banner." Again, emphasizing the non-ranking-difference of unification (of the will of sacrifice)

Comradeship is something philosophic, you don't simply consider it as "pal", or "brothers"... Try live in non-tier-1 cities and towns of China for sometime, you may feel it.

Regarding the Chinese Youth Pioneers, is it a political organization? Sure it is, the head of the organization is among the "national leaders", so dose the sister organization China Communist Youth League, present President of China, Mr. Hu Jin Tao was once the head of Communist Youth League - General Secretary of Centre (Centre as vs. Provincial) Communist Youth League.

So dose these organizations successfully "dose thier jobs"? Let's put it in this way:

In your living environment, have you ever see people organize some committee to: Encourage you to use condom; Encourage you to get away from gangs; Encourage you to fight drugs; Encourage you to stop smoking... Many people attended this kind of activities, some took the advise, some do not, life gose on.

Youth Pioneers and Youth League, are also such kind of organization, try to influence you in line with that "Prepare to serve the nation and people" kind of spirit. Too bad for some people, these organization are so well reached, there's "no escaping" for attending the governmental schools while NOT attending these organizations. (Most school that do not cheat your money at the end of day, are governmental schools)

But it DO NOT beat the crap out of you to make you "in line" with what they trying to shape you. People attended the Pioneers and / or Youth League, could still be social criminals and / or natioanl traitors, while some never have the chance to personally attend, still happy to see the flag remain red.

Most of the non-political-sensitive people just take these organizations as Chinese version of boy / girl scouts, and keeps remembering the "unfair" ￥5 (maybe 10~20 these years) yuans of membership fee every year for "not doing anything." (not even a true boy scout field runs); but everytime when a senior or a teacher throws you a hard task to do, adds :"This is one of the test the Youth League put on your shoulder." （这是组织对你的考验）　while asking you to clean the toilet or dusting the window...

It is a "Be-a-good-boy" league, established at schools, funded by CCP. Ironically, I personnelly heard before, that someone wearing a Youth League insignia being stopped at western country airport, treated like a "terrorist watchlist" guy, yet the authority dare not to speak frankly "we stop you is because we don't like commies!". Guess thier country has really been torn apart by commies these days - while I mentioned above that you can't seek "Comradeship" at tier-1 cities of China already nowadays.

This is called 哭笑不得, don't know I should cry or laugh.

even though i have been a member of sinodefence forum since i dont know, 04,05? i havent been logging on for a long time. I saw this thread back in my chinese military forum, and i decided to come back here and pay my respect to this finnish young man who wants to join the PLA. PS. do you know your thread is being translated to chinese and spread allover the chinese military forum?
anyhow, i am sure in 8 pages of replies, you have gotten the idea that you are not be able to join the PLA. hey, dont feel bad, i am born in china, and i couldnt even get into PLA.
unlike westen countries, there are too many people are who willing to join the army, and they have to bribe the recruiting officers to make it so,sometimes it costs from about 5000 USD and up. not mention you are no chinese citizen.
anyway, it's so good to see some people out there wants to join an army thats totally inreleavent to him. if you still love chinese army, and wants to learn something about it. i suggest you in a long term, you could try to learn chinese and come to chinese uni, which costs very little comparing to what i am going through in canada....

in a short term, you could always buy chinese army uniforms and dress up like one at home and when you go to school for now. many chinese people who cant join army do that you know, including myself.especially PLA infantry is adopting some of very nice looking infantry gears, that makes you look like a real modern infantryman. which back in 04, they looked like shit, and i would be so ashamed to show you guys here.....