The Dual Reality Of 'Martial Law In Chinese': From Taiwan's White Terror To Beijing's 1989 Crackdown

The term 'martial law in Chinese' (戒嚴 or 军事管制) carries a weight of historical and political significance unlike almost any other legal concept globally. As of December 14, 2025, there is no active declaration of martial law in the People's Republic of China (PRC) or Taiwan (Republic of China, ROC), yet the legal frameworks and the historical traumas associated with its past implementation remain a critical point of study for understanding modern Chinese governance and human rights. This deep dive explores the profound duality of the term across the Chinese-speaking world, from the longest period of martial law in history to the most globally scrutinized military deployment. Understanding the context requires separating the two primary historical and legal contexts: the PRC's power to enforce 戒嚴 (Jièyán) or 军事管制 (Jūnshì guǎnzhì - Military Control), and the Republic of China's (ROC) decades-long use of the measure on Taiwan. The legal mechanisms for declaring this state of exception are clearly defined in each respective government's legal code, granting temporary, sweeping powers to the military and suspending civilian rights in times of severe national crisis or unrest.

The Legal Framework: How the PRC and ROC Define Martial Law

The power to declare martial law is enshrined in the legal systems of both the PRC and the ROC (Taiwan), though the application and historical outcomes have been vastly different.

PRC: The 'Martial Law of the People's Republic of China'

The People's Republic of China has a specific law governing the declaration and enforcement of martial law, known as the Martial Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国戒严法). * Legal Basis: The law grants the power to declare martial law to the State Council in certain circumstances, such as severe social unrest, natural disasters, or foreign invasion. * Scope of Declaration: Martial law can be imposed over the entire state or in specific parts of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government. * Suspension of Rights: During the period of martial law, the local government under the control of the military can implement various measures, including curfews, traffic control, censorship, and the temporary restriction or suspension of certain constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. * Authority: The decision to enforce martial law over the whole state is made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) based on a proposal from the State Council. For smaller areas, the State Council can make the decision directly.

ROC (Taiwan): The World's Longest Martial Law

In the context of the Republic of China (ROC), the term is inextricably linked to the White Terror period on Taiwan. * Declaration: Martial law was first declared in Taiwan by the ROC government, led by Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), in May 1949. * Duration: This period lasted for 38 years, officially ending in July 1987. This makes it the longest period of martial law imposed by any government in modern history. * Impact: The era was characterized by severe political repression, mass arrests, and executions of perceived political dissidents, a dark chapter known as the White Terror (白色恐怖). * Transition: The lifting of martial law was a pivotal moment in Taiwan's transition to democracy, leading to the eventual implementation of a full constitutional government and a robust multi-party system.

The Shadow of 1989: Tiananmen Square and 军事管制

The most infamous and globally recognized application of military control in the modern PRC era occurred during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 (六四事件). In the spring of 1989, massive student-led demonstrations for political reform and against corruption swept through Beijing and other major Chinese cities. As the protests escalated, the Chinese leadership, through the State Council, declared martial law on May 20, 1989, in parts of the Beijing Municipality. The declaration led to the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops. Despite the initial declaration, which was technically a form of 军事管制 (Jūnshì guǎnzhì - Military Control), the subsequent violent crackdown on the night of June 3rd and the morning of June 4th, 1989, remains one of the most controversial events in modern Chinese history. The use of military force to quell civilian dissent demonstrated the ultimate authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the willingness to invoke the full powers of the martial law framework to maintain political stability.

Key Entities and Concepts in the Chinese Martial Law Context

To gain topical authority on the subject of 'martial law in Chinese,' it is essential to be familiar with the entities, laws, and historical events that define it. The concept is not a monolithic one but a collection of historical events and legal mechanisms.

• 戒嚴 (Jièyán): The primary Chinese term for Martial Law, meaning 'to guard strictly.'
• 军事管制 (Jūnshì guǎnzhì): A related term, often translated as 'Military Control,' which can be seen as a form of martial law applied to a limited area or for a specific purpose.
• The White Terror (白色恐怖): The common name for the period of political repression under ROC martial law in Taiwan (1949-1987).
• Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石): The leader of the Kuomintang (KMT) who imposed martial law on Taiwan.
• Kuomintang (KMT): The Chinese Nationalist Party that governed Taiwan under martial law.
• National People's Congress (NPC): The PRC's highest state organ, whose Standing Committee has the power to approve nationwide martial law.
• State Council (国务院): The chief administrative authority of the PRC, which declared martial law in Beijing in 1989.
• People's Liberation Army (PLA): The armed forces of the PRC, responsible for enforcing martial law.
• Tiananmen Square (天安門廣場): The site of the 1989 protests and subsequent military action.
• Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平): The paramount leader of the PRC during the 1989 events.
• Zhao Ziyang (趙紫陽): The CCP General Secretary who opposed the use of force in 1989 and was subsequently purged.
• Constitution of the PRC: The legal document that theoretically protects citizens' rights, which are temporarily suspended under martial law.
• Emergency Law (突發事件應對法): A related PRC law governing responses to public health, natural, or social security incidents, distinct from but related to the martial law framework.
• Democratization of Taiwan: The process of political reform that followed the lifting of martial law in 1987.
• National Security Law (Hong Kong): While not strictly martial law, the 2020 law imposed by Beijing grants broad powers to curb dissent, representing a modern form of state control over a civilian population.
• Transitional Justice (轉型正義): The ongoing process in Taiwan to address the human rights abuses committed during the martial law period.
• Military Court-Martial: The legal process that can be used to try civilians during a state of martial law.

The history of martial law in the Chinese context is a powerful narrative of state authority versus civil liberties. Whether viewed through the lens of the PRC's swift, decisive, and legally sanctioned military control or the ROC's decades-long suppression of dissent, the term 戒嚴 signifies a moment when military power supersedes civilian governance. This dual historical legacy continues to inform political discourse, human rights debates, and the delicate geopolitical balance across the Taiwan Strait.