State-level specialized emergency rescue troops to be established by late 2010

State-level specialized emergency rescue troops to be established by late 2010

(Source: Xinhua) 2010-04-21
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/china-military-news/2010-04/21/content_4190076.htm

　　Approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will build 8 state-level specialized emergency rescue units with 50,000 servicemen in total and the 8 units will form emergency rescue capabilities by the end of 2010, a senior official responsible for the arrangement of the military emergency rescue operations said on the morning of April 20.

　　At the press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council on the morning of April 20, Tian Yixiang, director of the Emergency Response Office of the General Staff Headquarters of the PLA, elaborated the actions the PLA has taken to perfect its emergency response mechanism for disaster relief.

　　According to Tian Yixiang, the PLA has focused on the following 7 aspects to enhance its emergency response and disaster relief capabilities:

　　--It has strengthened the establishment of the military-civilian disaster information sharing mechanism. For example, the military received the Yushu earthquake notification from the China Seismological Bureau 12 minutes after the earthquake happened.

　　--It has reinforced the building of the emergency response commanding institutions. The Emergency Response Office of the GSH has absorbed more staff members and defined more clearly the responsibilities of its subordinate sections.

　　--It has strengthened the establishment of the military-civilian interaction mechanism. The Ministry of National Defense has established the joint conference system with 20-plus departments under the State Council.

　　--It has enhanced the establishment of emergency response special force. The “Plan on PLA’s Capacity Building in Military Operations Other than War” issued on January 5, 2009 specified the guidelines, principles, objectives, size of strength and measures for the building of the forces to perform military operations other than war (MOOTW).

　　--It has strengthened the formulation of laws and regulations on emergency response. The “Regulations of the PLA on Emergency Command in Handling Contingencies” to be promulgated soon will make a full-range stipulations of the commanding principle, contents, procedures and requirements of various MOOTW including disaster relief.

　　--It has reinforced the building of the emergency support capability of disaster-relief equipment and materials.

　　--It has strengthened the political work in MOOTW.

　　Translated by China Military Online