What happens if someone decides to quit the People's Liberation Army?

New Delhi, Delhi, India

The People's Liberation Army serves as an indoctrination tool of the Communist Party. Soldiers are forced to study communist writings to such a degree that they can recite them verbatim.

Every civilian is encouraged to emulate these soldiers by enrolling in the army. They are forced to undergo physically demanding recruit training.

But what happens if someone refuses? What happens if someone decides to quit the PLA?

The Chinese government makes sure to create trouble in their lives. 

This is the story of a man called Zhang Moukang. He was a university student from China's southern Hainan province. He joined the Chinese army and within a month, he wanted to leave. 

And this isn't a very old story, this happened in December 2019. The time when China was hiding the Wuhan virus.

So Zhang wanted to quit. What happened next is a matter of record. It has been documented on the official English website of the PLA. The Chinese army made an example out of Zhang.

He was subjected to eight different types of punishment. The punishments that every recruit planning to quit the army will face.

Let's list them out: 

First, He will be branded as  'seriously discreditable'.

They have such a list in China. The list of people who are 'seriously discreditable' in fulfilling national defence obligations. He will be banned from travelling abroad, purchasing real estate, from taking long-distance trains or buses, from even taking loans and insurance services. All of this will be for a period of two years.

Punishment number two, which will be for life.  

He won't get a job as a civil servant. Not even a temporary assignment. He won't be recruited by government agencies or enterprises for life.

Punishment number three, 

Your military service status will forever be changed to 'rejection of military service'.

In China, this translates into the life-long stigma.

Fourth punishment, he can't go back to college. For two years, will be forbidden from re-entering college. So he can't resume your studies. 

Fifth, no preferential treatment. That's something compulsory servicemen are entitled to. Those who quit, obviously don't get it. 

Sixth, he will be fined. A fine of 4,000 dollars plus reimbursement to the military worth 3,750 dollars. 

This is money he will have to pay for the costs incurred during your training. Even if he did not finish it.

Seventh, he can't start any business. Not for two years at least. 

And finally, he will be publicly shamed. His actions will be publicized in a way that they reach the broader society.

Zhang's information and his punishment will be on television, newspapers and social media.

The PLA has publicly named and shamed several former soldiers in the past. Only a few forces can be said to be as Orwellian as the PLA.

An army that declares war against its own soldiers. There is no liberation from the people's liberation army.