The Reform of China’s Military Procuratorate Since 2016: Exploration and Prospects

The China Military Procuratorate has been reshaped by two major reforms. The 2016 overhaul of the military judicial system created a vertically led, relatively independent procuratorial hierarchy. In 2018, however, the Military Discipline Inspection Commission absorbed all duty crime investigative powers, tilting the balance of legal oversight. Based on the military judicial reform experiences of various countries around the world, this article recommends three corrective steps: (1) formally affirm the procuratorate’s status as a branch of state judicial power; (2) restore dual vertical leadership under the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Central Military Commission; and (3) give the procuratorate statutory authority to supervise the Discipline Inspection Commission. These measures offer practical guidance for strengthening PLA legal supervision and supply a comparative model for global military justice reform and anti corruption efforts.