PLA denies sponsoring summer camp

By Liang Yiwen  |   2008-6-21  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE People's Liberation Army has denied sponsoring an expensive military summer camp which is recruiting its initial class in Shanghai.

The strategic research center with the People's Liberation Army put up a notice on its Website saying that it took part in some of the camp's military education courses but was not a sponsor - as the camp's recruitment adverts claim.

"The camp is run by a private consulting company, and we know nothing about sponsorship and operation of the camp," the center announced in the notice.

The camp targets children aged between 10 and 18 and charges 8,900 yuan (US$1,271) for each participant for the 10-day training in Beijing.

The organizers claim the camp is sponsored by the PLA military research center.

Youngsters will undertake military training, join role-playing games as soldiers and visit Olympic stadiums in Beijing.

"The Chinese army is not only the cradle of captains, but also of business elites," said the camp in its advertisement. "Our past experience shows that more than 87 percent of camp members' grades are obviously improved, and 95 percent are elected leaders of their class."

Organizers said they planned to enroll about 400 youngsters, with the initial class starting next Sunday.

"We have received lots of applications recently, as parents are now beginning to arrange their child's activities during the summer vacation," said a camp official who refused to be identified.