China’s Militia Forces Train to “Get Strong” in the New Era

An in-depth assessment of China’s militia modernization since 2018 finds slow but steady, uneven progress as the Central Military Commission’s National Defense Mobilization Department pivots militias from emergency response toward wartime support under the Militia Construction 14th Five-Year Plan and the Militia Military Training Outline. Authorities are upgrading training bases with VR/simulation, institutionalizing joint training and evaluation with the PLA, adopting rotation-and-standby readiness models, and issuing benefits to boost participation, while emphasizing realistic, mission- and specialization-based training (notably cyber). Despite resource and implementation gaps, pockets of excellence are emerging, and shifts in training tempo, coverage, and joint activities—especially in key provinces—are flagged as indicators of intent ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan and potential contingencies involving Taiwan and the South China Sea.