A People’s Daily commentator article on December 10, addressed protests by Chinese veterans this year against the lack of job prospects for retired soldiers and inadequate services. The commentary asserted the importance of upholding the legitimate rights and interests of retired military personnel and providing them with guaranteed services, emphasizing that the CCP CC and Xi Jinping attach great importance to this issue. Xi Jinping has repeatedly made important speeches and directives on the subjects of preferential policies for retired military personnel, supporting their employment and entrepreneurship, and the introduction of the “Veterans Protection Law.” The commentary said that, while the overall situation is good, there are still some places where policies are inadequately implemented and there is insufficient support for veterans. Of the veterans that have demands, the “overwhelming majority are able to express them in a rational and legal manner” and all relevant departments must conscientiously study them and implement the policies to address them. However, some people have “crossed a line, engaged in illegal and criminal activities to the extent that they have gathered crowds and made disturbances and violently assaulted police, have demonstrated an organized and violent tendency, have threatened Party and government organizations, ignored Party and state law, deviated from fairness and justice, disturbed social order, gravely harmed the image of retired military personnel, harmed the collective and individual interests of the people, have become a prominent factor affecting the social stability of certain localities, and have given rise to widespread and intense dissatisfaction among the people.” The commentary urged veterans to recognize that China is a socialist country ruled by law, and that only by upholding legal authority and the sanctity of the law can social stability be maintained and can the country endure.
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