Protecting Military Facilities Crucial for National Defense and Security

China's Top Court Highlights Importance of Protecting Military Facilities

In a move to raise public awareness about national defense and the rule of law, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) recently disclosed five influential cases involving the protection of military facilities.

The SPC emphasized the crucial role of military facilities in national defense, serving as the foundation for the military to fulfill its missions and providing vital support for national strategic capabilities and military operations.

The disclosure of these cases not only underscores the significance of protecting military facilities but also demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Chinese courts in safeguarding national defense interests.

The SPC noted that crimes involving the destruction of military facilities, such as military optical cables, have occurred sporadically in recent years. Such actions endanger military security and affect the military's ability to carry out its missions, necessitating severe punishment.

One of the disclosed cases involved a defendant surnamed Xu, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sabotaging military communications. Xu, an employee of an information technology company responsible for inspecting and maintaining optical cable lines, used metal pliers to cut a military optical cable during an inspection with the intention of selling it. This resulted in the interruption of critical business systems for over two hours and disrupted military communications for three units conducting exercises.

Xu's actions caused economic losses exceeding 40,000 yuan ($5,490) and the loss of the involved optical cable amounted to over 9,000 yuan. The SPC emphasized that military optical cables are vital military communication facilities, and damage to them can have significant adverse effects on military communications and activities, not only causing financial losses but also severely influencing the readiness and training of troops, thereby endangering national defense interests and national security.

The SPC commended the conviction and sentence given to Xu, noting that the ruling demonstrates the judicial high-pressure on those who harm national defense interests and military combat effectiveness. While requiring courts nationwide to continue the fight against such crime, the SPC also called on more people from all walks of life to strengthen the protection of military facilities.