Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Military Service Law.
Article 11 The number, requirements and time of annual enlistment for active service throughout the country shall be stipulated by orders issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) (hereinafter referred to as the Central Military Commission). The local people's governments at or above the county level shall organize military service organs and relevant departments to set up conscription agencies and be responsible for organizing and implementing conscription work.
Twelfth male citizens who have reached the age of 18 years before1February 3 1 every year shall be recruited for active service. Those who have not been recruited in that year can still be recruited for active service before the age of 22, and the recruitment age of ordinary college graduates can be relaxed to 24. According to the needs of the army, female citizens may be recruited for active service in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph. According to the needs of the army and on my own initiative, citizens who have reached the age of1February 3 1 day, but have not reached the age of 17 18 can be enlisted for active service.
Article 13 The State practices the military service registration system. Before December 31st each year, male citizens who have reached the age of eighteen shall, in accordance with the arrangements of the military service organs of counties, autonomous counties, cities and municipal districts, conduct military service registration before June 30th of that year. Those who pass the preliminary examination in military service registration are called eligible citizens.