BEIJING - Chinese authorities made public on Sunday a guideline on national defense and the rights of the servicemen and their families.

The guideline lays out a mechanism to coordinate settlement of military rights protection issues at the national level, requiring the country's top court, top procuratorate, and ministries of public security, civil affairs, justice, finance, human resources and social security, and land and resources to designate officials to report regularly. Local governments were asked to set up a leading group to resolve issues involving military institutions and personnel.

"Safeguarding the interests of national defense and rights of the servicemen and their families is important for a strong army, consolidating CPC rule, safeguarding national security and promoting military-civilian unity," the guideline said, urging authorities to safeguard national defense interests and military security by preventing theft of military secrets and supplies, sabotage of military facilities, or impersonation of servicemen.

It also ordered authorities to solve cases involving servicemen or their families' marriage, injuries, land expropriation, and demolition compensation in a timely manner.

The guideline was jointly issued by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).