Patriot
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It's a old article written by retired Chief of Pakistan Air Force who visited China in 1973 and met with senior Chinese Officials.I was wondering if China's Armed Forces structure is still same?I know that they have ranks now but more interested re: promotion and getting the position of commander of battalion etc.
Written by Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhary (Retired Pakistan Air Force Chief.)
Quoting from his book
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Curiously enough, The Chinese Armed Forces have no ranks - some thing which other countries find difficult to understand and accept.They contend that a deserving position is designated as the commander of formation and he in turn assign duties to those under his command depending on their suitability without introducing the stratification of formal rank.A particular striking and attractive feature of Chinese System is that even those holding high positions are frequently made to carry out the chores of lowest functionaries working under them.For example, Commander of a military base would help in harvesting the rice corp sown within the area of his establishment.Initially, some of our officers were very junior when we arrived in China we were met by Chinese officers who insisted on carrying our baggage.Only later did our officers discover to their great discomfort that their porters were very important officers, equivalent to Generals in our rank structure.I remember a incident when i happens to visit an airfield near Peking and we were walking towards a waiting lounge at the airport.As I entered the entrance, a person, who i thought to be an attendant assigned to lounge, politely bowed and opened the door for me to enter.As i was talking through the door..the air attache hurriedly caught up with me and said, Sir, please shake hands with this person, He is the commander of Chinese Air Force.Needless to say, I was greatly embarrassed and apologized at some length for my thoughtlessness.
Written by Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhary (Retired Pakistan Air Force Chief.)
Quoting from his book
-
Curiously enough, The Chinese Armed Forces have no ranks - some thing which other countries find difficult to understand and accept.They contend that a deserving position is designated as the commander of formation and he in turn assign duties to those under his command depending on their suitability without introducing the stratification of formal rank.A particular striking and attractive feature of Chinese System is that even those holding high positions are frequently made to carry out the chores of lowest functionaries working under them.For example, Commander of a military base would help in harvesting the rice corp sown within the area of his establishment.Initially, some of our officers were very junior when we arrived in China we were met by Chinese officers who insisted on carrying our baggage.Only later did our officers discover to their great discomfort that their porters were very important officers, equivalent to Generals in our rank structure.I remember a incident when i happens to visit an airfield near Peking and we were walking towards a waiting lounge at the airport.As I entered the entrance, a person, who i thought to be an attendant assigned to lounge, politely bowed and opened the door for me to enter.As i was talking through the door..the air attache hurriedly caught up with me and said, Sir, please shake hands with this person, He is the commander of Chinese Air Force.Needless to say, I was greatly embarrassed and apologized at some length for my thoughtlessness.
