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With 85 million dues-paying members, just over 6% of China’s population of 1.35 billion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the largest political party in the world with some 80+ million members (2013 data).   

With 85 million dues-paying members, just over 6% of China’s population of 1.35 billion, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the largest political party in the world with some 80+ million members (2013 data).   

Since the Tiannanmen massacre the party is obsessed with stability, deploying a vast internal security apparatus to head off protests or, once they erupt, to prevent them from spreading. The government is constantly talking about 'stability maintenance' which is coded language for ensuring the party's rule.  

Since the Tiannanmen massacre the party is obsessed with stability, deploying a vast internal security apparatus to head off protests or, once they erupt, to prevent them from spreading. The government is constantly talking about 'stability maintenance' which is coded language for ensuring the party's rule.  The domestic security apparatus includes an 800,000-strong police force under the Ministry of Public Security and a 1.5 million-strong paramilitary force, the People’s Armed Police, which reports to both the Party’s Central Military Commission and, through the Ministry of Public Security, to the State Council.  

Since 2011 the Chinese government's Internal Security budget, which is also known as their Stability Maintenance budget, has been larger than their military budget. The Communist Party considers any threat to stability as a threat to their rule.

Since 2011 the Chinese government's Internal Security budget, which is also known as their Stability Maintenance budget, has been larger than their military budget. The Communist Party considers any threat to stability as a threat to their rule.