The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has established an
Olympic security taskforce, comprising units from the army, navy
and air force, a senior PLA officer said on Thursday.
A command center has been organized and the staff have been
selected and put through their paces, according to Tian Yixiang,
director of the military bureau of the Beijing Olympic Games security work command
center.
The security unit's remit would principally tackle
non-traditional threats during the games, particularly biochemical
and nuclear terror attacks, Tian said while briefing 65 defense
attaches from 54 foreign embassies to China.
Under the comprehensive security plan of the Beijing Olympics,
the PLA unit will oversee air protection for all areas, and
maritime safety of coastal venues such as Qingdao or Hong Kong. It
will act as a back-up to police response teams to prevent or deal
with terror attacks and coordinate necessary rescue operations.
The PLA will also watch border control mechanisms to halt any
potential activists from East Turkistan terrorist organizations,
Falun Gong adherents or Tibetan separatists from getting to the
games.
It will also be responsible for breaking up any protests
destined to pursue a political agenda during the Games. "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 with the Beijing Olympic Games security
command center had sought to broaden its experience base and
skill-set by taking part in exchanges with Australian and Greek
units which had experienced Olympic duty whilst also observing
Commonwealth Games security drills.
"The equipment and defense abilities of the PLA security unit
for the Beijing Olympics will exceed those in the Athens Games,"
Tian said.
The military bureau is in charge of the PLA's security work and
will operate under the direction of the Beijing Olympic Games
security command center and the PLA's Headquarters of the General
Staff.
(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2007)