Policy & RegulationAnalysis
China Central Agencies Launch 2026 National Defense Education Campaign
A 12-department circular designates September for nationwide public defense awareness, student military training, and military camp open days.
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The Brief
Twelve Chinese central departments, led by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, have issued a directive designating September as National Defense Education Month for 2026. Centered on the theme of carrying forward the Long March spirit to build a strong national defense, the campaign prioritizes studying Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, standardizing student military training, expanding public access to military bases, and promoting model military figures. The measure aims to reinforce national security consciousness and public defense obligations.
Why it matters
This initiative represents Beijing's annual national mobilization effort to align public awareness with strategic defense goals. By engaging schools, media organizations, and grassroots administrative units, the directive institutionalizes defense education within civic life, reinforcing social cohesion and strategic preparedness amid an evolving external security environment.
China context
National defense education in China serves as a civic and ideological mechanism connecting civilian society with the armed forces. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, these annual September campaigns combine patriotic education—often drawing on historical themes like the Long March—with practical experiences such as student drills and barracks visits to sustain civilian support for military modernization.
Editor's View
EDITOR'S VIEW — Analysis and inference, not factual reporting.
The joint issuance of the circular by 12 central departments highlights the coordinated, whole-of-government approach Beijing applies to national security education. By coupling theoretical study with concrete initiatives such as student training and open military installations, authorities aim to make defense mobilization a routine element of civic life rather than an abstract concept. The directive's emphasis on practical efficacy also indicates an ongoing concern with curbing performative compliance at the local level.
What to watch
- Participation levels and activities during the mid-September National Defense Education Day, including scheduled civil defense siren tests.
- The implementation and quality oversight of mandatory student military training programs across colleges and high schools during the autumn semester.
- The scale and public accessibility of open-day events organized at People's Liberation Army barracks and installations.
Key Takeaways
- 1Twelve central agencies, led by the CPC Central Publicity Department, designated September 2026 for nationwide defense education activities.
- 2The campaign centers on studying Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military alongside themes from the Long March.
- 3Key operational directives mandate student military training, expanded military camp open days, and multimedia outreach.
- 4Local departments are instructed to prioritize grassroots participation and practical implementation.
Twelve Chinese central departments, led by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, have issued a joint circular ordering the nationwide rollout of the 2026 "National Defense Education Month" throughout September, according to state media outlet Xinhua. The nationwide campaign is organized around the theme of "carrying forward the great Long March spirit and jointly building a strong national defense."
The circular identifies the study and dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military as the primary task of the month's activities, calling for systematic study, theoretical explanation, and widespread public popularization. Authorities are instructed to connect defense education with the founding spirit of the CPC and the Long March spirit, utilizing ideological, patriotic, and revolutionary tradition programs to reinforce public defense responsibilities among officials and citizens.
Beyond ideological study, the notice directs institutions to expand hands-on defense education programs. Key requirements include conducting student military training with practical rigor, deepening open-barracks initiatives to allow broader public interaction with the military, and publicizing model figures and exemplary case studies from the defense and military modernization sectors. The circular also calls for the utilization of online and multimedia communication channels to broaden the reach and appeal of defense-related content.
In their directive, the central agencies instructed local governments and relevant departments to maintain clear political direction, focus activities on grassroots communities and the general public, and adhere to practical and grounded execution. State media reports noted that these efforts are intended to cultivate a broad social atmosphere of supporting national defense while establishing a firm ideological foundation for the country's military development goals.
Sources
- 中共中央宣传部等印发《关于组织开展2026年“全民国防教育月”活动的通知》 — State Council of China · 9/1/2026