SEVERAL factories in China are working overtime to rush out huge orders from the Chinese military for new naval vessels, helicopters and other equipment, apparently as part of the armed forces' modernisation efforts, a report here said yesterday.
Projects from the People's Liberation Army over the past year have seen many military production units putting in extra hours to meet deadlines, according to Hong Kong's Ming Pao Daily News.
Retired engineers and technicians were also recalled to 'contribute to the cause of national defence' and help reduce the massive workload, the report said.
Mr Miao Lijie, a senior manager at the Harbin Power Equipment group, whose subsidiary is China's only producer of generating units for nuclear submarines, told Ming Pao the amount of orders received by the company was 'unprecedented'. But he declined to elaborate.
Workers at the group's factories said that they have had to work overtime in recent months to complete the projects.
Another company, the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, which produces WZ-9 attack helicopters for the military, was also 'swamped' with orders.
The Chinese military has plans to deploy WZ-9 helicopters to every army group in the country to meet the needs of modern warfare, the newspaper said.
Shipyards in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Dalian were also reported to be busy with work.
The report concluded that these developments were a sign that China was stepping up preparations for war.
