China arrests ten military veterans

China's state media have reported that Chinese authorities in the eastern province of Shandong have detained ten military veterans who were involved in veterans' protests that were held in early October.

Retirement for military retirement and other benefits have been a long-standing problem in China. Consequently, recent years have seen such protests from time to time. Chinese state media have said veterans' protests were illegal. Protesters had clashed with the police and had damaged several cars.

The Chinese government has repeatedly promised that it will best address veterans, while this year it has established the Ministry of Veterans as part of a broader restructuring of ministerial departments. In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced that China would reduce the number of soldiers for 300 thousand by 2017, and it is estimated that this target has almost been fully achieved, writes “Reuters”.