China Taps Telecom Executive as Senior Colonel for Reserve Force

China’s military appointed an executive from a state telecommunications company as a senior colonel in its reserve force, highlighting Beijing’s continued efforts to integrate civilian technology with its armed forces.

The Information Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army announced the enlistment of Li Chunran in a social media post last week, which was reported by People’s Daily and other state media on Tuesday. The PLA article featured photos of Li dressed in military clothing and identified her employer as a state-owned enterprise, without naming it.