「雙擁」是「擁軍優屬、擁政愛民」的簡稱。它是用來規範軍隊、政府、和政府控制的社會對彼此應有的行為。其目標是建立相互支持的整合系統，為軍隊的戰力奠定社會的基礎。隨著改革開放的推進，經濟改革的深入，社會就業制度的改變，和經濟改革衍生出的政府機構改革，雙擁政策面臨越來越多的困難。這特別是指，轉業幹部、榮民、離退役人員幹部的安置工作，和優屬工作的推動。另外，軍隊和地方因為經濟利益的摩擦以致軍地和軍民關係變得難處理。這使中國的軍隊與社會關係逐漸產生變化：在過去，國家有很大的控制權，社會幾乎是國家組織的延伸而沒有自主性，因此，軍隊可以透過國家機器的運作，從社會取得完全無盡的支持，使得擁軍優屬得以順利地推動。然而，990 年代中以後則不具備這個條件了。

“Double Support” policy denotes “support military and give preferential treatment to military dependants” and “support government and love people.” The goal of the Double Support policy is to create norms among the Chinese military, government and society so that the three systems can be fully integrated and military capability can be enhanced. As China’s reform evolved, economic reform deepened, social employment system changed, and government structure adjusted, the Double Support policy has been encountering more difficulties. This is particularly the case for those leaving the military and military dependants. Also, pursuing economic interests by local governments has brought more frictions with the military stationing in localities. All these changed China’s civil-military relations. Before the mid- 1990s, the state had almost complete control, while the society was an extension of the state, and the military could obtain every support with the help of the state. After the mid-1990s, however, those conditions have been gradually eroded to a less degree of significance.