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China Claims Zero Infections in Its Military

John Xie

   While militaries around the world are seeing their soldiers fall victim
   to the coronavirus, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's
   largest standing army, claims it remains virus-free.

   "China Confirms No Cases of Coronavirus Infection in Military," said a
   headline in an official military publication on March 3. There has been
   no public update on military infections since.

   In addition to its 2 million-strong active-duty military troops, the
   country also has an 800,000-strong armed police force. During the
   height of the crisis, tens of thousands of soldiers, medics and support
   personnel were deployed into some of the most infected areas of China,
   including Wuhan, to fight on the front lines.

   But the disease has never made it to PLA barracks, according to China's
   official data and reports.

   When asked why there were no cases of infection, Chen Jingyuan, health
   division director of the Logistic Support Department under the Central
   Military Commission, said in a press conference last month it was
   because the Chinese military's strengthened prevention measures have
   been completely successful.

   "We have strengthened personnel training on disease response measures,
   imposed restrictions on unnecessary personnel movements, and canceled
   unnecessary gatherings," Chen said. He said the outbreak has actually
   "improved the combat readiness of the Chinese military, instead."

   Mounting skepticism

   As known coronavirus cases topped over 1 million worldwide, many
   countries' armed forces have reported infections. In the United States,
   roughly a month since the first service member tested positive for
   coronavirus in South Korea, the U.S. military reportedly has about
   1,000 confirmed cases. Elsewhere, countries including France, Great
   Britain, Japan and South Korea are also seeing a steady rise in
   infection in their armed forces.

   In some countries, top generals were not spared from the coronavirus.
   Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., chief of staff of the Philippines armed
   forces, and Jaroslaw Mika, general commander of Poland's armed forces,
   both have tested positive.

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