Ministry of Veterans Affairs (China)

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs is a ministry of the State Council which is responsible for military veterans in the country. It was formed on 19 March 2018.

History
On March 19, 2018, the Government of the People's Republic of China announced that the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been created at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress. That same day, Sun Shaocheng was elected Minister of Veterans Affairs. The Ministry took over some responsibilities of various departments including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission.

Creation of the Ministry in part responded to protests by military veterans for better pensions and other benefits.

Functions
The Ministry is responsible for the management and provision of services of military veterans, retired firefighters and search and rescue personnel in China, totaling around 57 million. According to the regulations concerning the Ministry, it is tasked with overseeing ideological and political management of veterans, helping them transition to civilian life, and administer them benefits related to social welfare, medical care, employment training, and entrepreneurship incentives. It is also tasked with publicizing veterans who made contributions to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the state and the people, managing the commemoration of official martyrs, and assisting injured or disabled veterans.