Chinese military veterans stage protests in central Beijing over pensions
Chinese military veterans have demonstrated in central Beijing for two days, demanding unpaid retirement benefits in a new wave of protests highlighting the difficulty in managing demobilized troops.
Hundreds of protesters, dressed in green and blue camouflage fatigues, gathered on Wednesday morning outside the Communist Party’s anti-corruption agency, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, standing in rows and chanting slogans.
Reuters was sent footage of the protest by participants.
A smaller gathering of protesters congregated outside the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Thursday morning but they were swiftly dispersed, a demobilized soldier told Reuters, citing protesters at the scene.
Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang, asked about the protests, said the government cared about veterans’ welfare, attached great importance to resolving their difficulties and had done much to better their conditions.
“We believe that with further deepening of reform and continued economic development, the establishment of a better social security network and the implementation of relevant policies, the difficulties veterans encounter will be overcome,” Ren told a regular monthly news briefing.
Read More: HERE
