Gendarmerie usually refers to a unit or individual who performs military police functions in the military. The duties of the gendarmerie include maintaining military discipline, managing military traffic, protecting military installations and personnel, conducting criminal investigations, dealing with military prisons, and performing rear support tasks in wartime.Gendarmerie names, responsibilities, and organizational structures may vary from country to country, but they usually have some or all of the above responsibilities. For example, the gendarmerie nationale in France, the carabinieri in Italy, and the military police in the United States are all examples of gendarmerie power.
The origins of the gendarmerie system can be traced back to medieval Europe, when it was first established by the French crown in the late 12th century to protect the royal family and perform police functions. This system then spread among other European countries.
For example, the French concept of "Marachet" (one of the earliest forms of gendarmerie) refers to the cavalry that was responsible for maintaining the order of the royal family and the nobility. Over time, this organization evolved into the gendarmerie as we know it today, not only in the military but also in the civilian sphere. The subordinate branch of the gendarmerie varies from country to country and is usually divided into two situations:
1.Military subordination: In many countries, the gendarmerie is part of the military and is directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defence or equivalent military administration. As part of the army, they are mainly responsible for the functions of military discipline, the execution of military tribunals, the protection of military installations, etc.
2.Subordinate to the Home Service: In some countries, particularly those where the gendarmerie also performs civilian police functions, the gendarmerie may be subordinate to the Home Affairs or subject to both the Home Affairs and Defence Departments. A prime example is France's Gendarmerie Nationale, for example, which is part of the French armed forces and also performs civilian police duties, and is therefore subject to the joint supervision of both the interior and the defence.
In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in order to completely abandon the signs of the old military system with an aggressive and oppressive nature, China chose not to establish a military police force, but to seek a new type of military management and defense mechanism suited to its national conditions. From the very beginning, the PLA drew on the experience of Soviet military organization and management, forming a management system with political work as the core.
This system focuses on improving the political loyalty and discipline of the armed forces, relying on internal political education and organizational management to ensure the effectiveness and loyalty of the armed forces, rather than relying on the military police to maintain order in the army and society as in Western countries, which constitutes a distinctive feature that distinguishes it from Western countries.
According to the May Fourth Constitution, ** was given the power to command the armed forces of the whole country. However, in the 82 Constitution, this duty was changed to the leadership of the armed forces of the whole country by the ** Military Council, and the principle of the party's absolute leadership over the army was emphasized. As a result, China's armed forces do not have a gendarmerie unit in the traditional sense.
The functions of the gendarmerie are assumed by different military organizations, including the armed police force, the army's garrison picket detachments, and the army's security department, but the law enforcement functions of these forces are not comprehensive and cannot be regarded as a gendarmerie force in the full sense. Although there are units called gendarmerie in the Hong Kong Garrison, their functions are practically the same as those of the mainland's garrison picket detachments, which are mainly responsible for maintaining military discipline, but they differ in name.
Summary
Chinese mainland does not have a military police force, a decision rooted in its unique historical background, political system, and specific needs for military management and organizational structures. By developing a military management system that is compatible with national conditions, China has effectively ensured the discipline and efficient operation of the armed forces, while ensuring national security and social stability. This unique approach reflects China's uniqueness in the field of military construction and management, and also shows China's determination to move forward along the path of national defense and military modernization with its own characteristics.