Beijing has introduced a new regulatory framework to restrict the sale of decommissioned and scrapped military equipment. The administrative notice, issued by multiple state bodies, prohibits the sale of such items through unauthorized channels, both online and in physical marketplaces. The government stated that the crackdown is necessary to address security risks and prevent the negative impact caused by the open trade of military-related goods, which range from uniforms to heavy machinery.

According to the notice, the proliferation of these items in the commercial sector has created potential vulnerabilities and harmed the reputation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). While the directive was published internally last week, it was officially made public on Tuesday. The new rules mandate stricter oversight of how military surplus is handled, effectively ending the practice of private operators selling decommissioned gear to the general public. The government emphasized that these measures are essential to maintaining national security and ensuring that military property is not misused or misrepresented in the civilian sphere.