China is no longer automatically offering government jobs to retiring military officers. For years, officers who had finished at least twenty years service were able to take an administrative job in the government. But since 2001, officers have been encouraged to turn down the government job and seek other employment. Now about 30 percent of the 40,000 or so officers retiring each year are doing so. Nearly all of these men are taking jobs in private businesses. This is providing more promotion opportunities for government officials who are not army veterans.

China has offered to reduce the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan if Taiwan reduces the new weapons it receives from the US.