Women and Children as Weapons in China
|
May 14, 2019
FBI Director Chris Wray is correct: China is taking an “a whole of society” approach in advancing its ambition. One illustration is the fact that China had been advocating for the use of women and children in direct combat in patriotic war movies and other types of propaganda. Even today, Chinese army continues to enlist or target juniors in its special operations. The upper photo on the right is from an official piece of news; it unveils a special program in People's Liberation Army College of Military Economics in Hubei Province, China. Its cadets are comprised of teenagers, with the youngest only 8 years old. They are officially enlisted as military officers. Their training is on mental calculation for various military tasks, including internet war. The lower photo is shared by American scholar Victor Shih on Twitter. It shows a dozen of elementary school students in XiAn, holding a banner that reads "Happy Summer 'Little Intelligence Officers' Patriotic Education Program". It clearly illustrates a systemic effort to instill the interest in espionage and surveillance among kids. The operation of such programs in China is disturbing. First, the acceptance of such practices in Chinese society, as indicated by the very fact that they are touted as positive pieces of news, lends support to the notion that China’s ambition is an “a whole of society” phenomenon. Second, the impact of such programs on shaping the national mentality is formidable, when you have a group of people whose growing-up memory is not marked with popcorn and baseball, rather, consists of only the notions such as ”target,” “task” and “enemy.” On another front, China is expert at exploiting women as a special force for its military and intelligence operations. One episode that might prove historically significant, and ironic as well, is the performance that honored Nixon's visit to China in 1972, which marked the historic resumption of engagement between the U.S. and China. During the visit, Nixon was entertained with the ballet The Red Detachment of Women, a performance that renders the true stories of an all-female company in Chinese Civil War. The company fought the war and survived the cruelty, largely because they were women and easier to hide and disguise. What if China uses little girls for its missions, as implied in the lower photo? Are Americans willing to accept such a possibility even just conceptually? |
Junior cadets officially enlisted in Chinese army, receiving training on mental calculation. The red slogan on the wall reads “To Honor Our Nation.” Photo source: the news.
A summer program for patriotic little intelligence officers
in China in 2019. Photo shared by Victor Shih on Twitter. |
Some Classic Chinese Movies or Opera That Feature Heroines and “Little Heroes.”
|
|
Sha Jia Bang《沙家浜》 The Beijing opera features a communist party heroine who runs intelligence operations in the disguise of a tea house owner, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. |
|
|
The Red Detachment of Women 《红色娘子军》
The ballet is adapted from an earlier movie that is based on true stories of an all-female company of the 2nd Independent Division of Chinese Red Army. The company fought the Chinese Civil War and survived the cruelty, partially because they were women and easier to hide and disguise. The ballet was performed to honor President Richard Nixon during his 1972 visit to China, which marked the historic resumption of engagement between the U.S. and China. |
|
|
Little Soldier Zhang Ga 《小兵张嘎》
The classic movie depicts the growing of a boy into a true soldier during the Second Sino-Japanese War, again involving intelligence operations. |
|
|
Sparkling Red Star 《闪闪的红星》
The movie again tells the story of a boy growing into a soldier during Chinese Civil War. Notably he revenges on his enemy by setting fire and killing him with a knife. The movie contains violence and strong display of hatred, viewer discretion is advised. |
