PLA fields anti-terror team for Olympics
29/6/2007 9:44
The People's Liberation Army has set up a special unit to provide security
against possible terrorist attacks and other major disruptions at the 2008
Beijing Olympics, a senior officer said yesterday.
A command center has
been organized and team members from the army, navy and air force have been
trained, said Tian Yixiang, director of the military bureau for the Beijing
Olympics security command center.
The PLA security unit will deal mainly
with non-traditional threats such as possible biochemical and nuclear terror
attacks, Tian told 65 defense attaches from 54 foreign embassies in China who
attended a briefing on PLA security preparations for the Olympics.
Under
the games' security plan, the PLA unit will be responsible for protecting the
airspace around all arenas and maritime safety in coastal venues.
The
unit will help police forces prevent and deal with any terror attacks as well as
rescue operations in disaster and accident situations.
The PLA will be
responsible for managing border control and to stop East Turkistan terrorist
organizations, Falun Gong adherents and Tibetan separatists from getting into
the games.
It will also prevent disruptions by organizations wanting to
pressure the Chinese government during the games.
Many PLA forces will
remain on alert in the air and at sea to ensure the safety of the Beijing
Olympics, Tian said. The military will also provide security for the equestrian
arena in Hong Kong if the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government
requests assistance.
"It is international practice for military forces to
participate in security for Olympic games," Tian said. "The PLA has completed
emergency plans for non-traditional threats."
The military bureau of the
Beijing Olympics security command center sent delegations to learn from
Australian and Greek military experts and observed security drills for the
Commonwealth Games.
Xinhua
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