New military plates hit the road

Experts told the Global Times on Wednesday that tougher measures are still needed to combat the privileges enjoyed by military vehicles, following the adoption of new vehicle plates by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and armed police forces on May 1.

The new license plates, which aim to curb the misuse of military vehicles and crack down on their forgery, reportedly contain high-tech features.

Security-related technology was first introduced to military plates in 2004, but it has been outdated for some time, Song Zhongping, a military affairs commentator, told the Global Times. He said some anti-bootleg technologies have been decoded and some manufacturers have leaked security codes.

Song said the new military plates require supervisors to use hand-held electronic devices to authenticate them, adding that vehicles with fake plates will be easily spotted as they pass tollbooths on highways.

In China local traffic police do not have the right to check vehicles with military plates, which are also showered with other privileges such as exemption from being fined for traffic violations and free passage on toll roads.

In February, an online campaign that exposed luxury cars with military plates drew public attention on the misuse of military vehicles. Luxury cars with military plates were frequently seen at scenic spots, restaurants and entertainment venues, and the assumption was they were being used for personal use.

"The ultimate aim of the new plates is to protect the military's image and improve the management of military vehicles," Song said, adding that standardizing the plates on legitimate military vehicles is the first step in assuaging public outrage over the privileges enjoyed by the military.

According to an earlier regulation, vehicles with an engine larger than 3.0 liters and priced at more than 450,000 yuan ($72,990) will not be issued new military plates.

Luxury vehicles including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln, Cadillac, Volkswagen Phaeton and Land Rover fall into the luxury category.

Bans on luxury cars have sparked heated discussion online. Most Web users applauded the action as part of an anti-corruption drive, while some doubt it will be effective, saying that the policy only prevents military personnel from being issued military plates for their expensive auto, not from buying one.

"The key point is how to make the policy work. This is a good measure that will help crack down on corruption and misuse of military cars," Zhu Lijia, a public management professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times, adding that more transparency is needed in the purchase of military vehicles.

"Any policy without a watchdog system is doomed to be a failure," he said. "Citizens should be allowed to know whether military vehicles cost more than 450,000 yuan."