Major companies in China are setting up their own volunteer armies

Editor's Note: Sign up for CNN's Meanwhile in China newsletter, which explores what you need to know about the country's rise and how it impacts the world. Hong Kong CNN — Chinese companies are doing something rarely seen since the 1970s: setting up their own volunteer armies. At least 16 major Chinese firms, including a privately-owned dairy giant, have established fighting forces over the past year, according to a CNN analysis of state media reports. These units, known as the People's Armed Forces Departments, are composed of civilians who retain their regular jobs. They act as a reserve and auxiliary…