China will bring the Amended National Defense Mobilization Law into force on 1 October 2026, expanding the scope of national defense mobilization to private-sector assets, including private companies, data and resources. The amendment is intended to establish a framework for a rapid transition from peacetime to wartime, and its relationship to a Taiwan contingency is also discussed.
China will bring the Amended National Defense Mobilization Law into force on 1 October 2026. The amendment was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and establishes a new framework comprising 14 chapters and 82 articles. As a result, not only military personnel but also private-sector personnel, resources, materials and equipment will be included within the scope of national defense mobilization.
The core of the amendment is to convert the strength of the economy and society into national defense capabilities and establish operational arrangements that enable a rapid transition from peacetime to wartime. The Chinese government has indicated that it intends to codify its review of the existing mobilization system and strengthen the division of responsibilities and coordination between the military and local governments.
The amendment also includes revisions to the Military Service Law and the Reserve Personnel Law, establishing a framework that includes the mobilization of nonmilitary assets such as data and software. Details of the amendments are being deliberated and implemented in stages based on publicly available information, and developments in their future operation are attracting attention.