The Origins of Chinese Special Forces, 1922–1935

Abstract

Special forces elements have been part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) well before the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (Red Army) was founded. Selected party members were involved in enforcing party discipline and killing counterrevolutionaries, while the latter, with the formation of the Red Army were traditional long-range reconnaissance forces capable of operating behind enemy lines and as elite light infantry. This article looks at the origin and early days of Chinese Special Forces, focusing on the period of 1922 to 1935, where its fortunes and operations mirrored the success of the party as a whole. Zhou Enlai himself resurrecting the Red Brigades, as the civilian special operations elements became known as after the ‘White Terror’ almost destroyed the party as the defection of Zhou’s successor almost did in in 1931.The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army (Red Army), the predecessor of the People’s Liberation Army, have had special forces elements from their beginnings. The former were charged with enforcing discipline and killing counterrevolutionaries, while the latter were traditional long-range reconnaissance forces capable of operating behind enemy lines and as elite light infantry. This article looks at the origin and early days of Chinese Special Forces, focusing on the period of 1922 to 1935, with some commentary on the People’s Liberation Army Special Forces.