China to deploy military unit for security at Olympic Games

Jun 29, 2007, 9:31 GMT

Beijing - China's military is to take part in providing security for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, adding to the police forces that are also to protect the international sporting event.

A special unit with its own command structure has been formed from the People's Liberation Army, Navy and Air Force and its training has been completed, the head of the military bureau for Olympic security, Tian Yixian, told foreign military attaches in Beijing, according to Chinese media reports Friday.

This special force would respond to non-traditional threats, such as terrorist or biochemical attacks, Tian said.

The military is also charged with manning the borders to prevent ethnic Uigur militants, members of the banned Falun Gong meditation sect and Tibetan separatists from travelling to the Olympics.

'It would also prevent disruptions by organizations wanting to pressure the Chinese government during the Games,' the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The unit would also provide security from the air for sports stadiums and from the sea for waterside events and would be responsible for rescue operations.

'It is international practice for military forces to participate in security for Olympic Games,' Tian said.

He said his military bureau had sent delegations to Australia and Greece to learn from their experiences in using the military to provide security at their Olympic Games.