ZTL09 8x8 Wheeled Light Tanks sporting the now-famous "Blue Smurf" camo were spotted in Sanya City, near the HQ of the PLAN Marine. Rumor has it that they are now getting those wheeled new toys to increase their mobility for MOOTW and non-amphibious operations. Time will tell.
Photos of the day: PLAN Marine anti-terror training pics
Send In the PLAN Marine
Shortly after the passage of new law authorizing the PLA to conduct
counter-terrorism operations overseas, the PLAN marine now heads to
Xinjing for some baptism of fire under "desert conditions".
Coincidence?
Chinese marines leave for military training in Xinjiang
Source: XinhuaEditor: Dong Zhaohui
2016-01-02 16:250
GUANGZHOU,
Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Chinese marines will be deployed in the
next few days to a training base in northwest China's Xinjiang to begin
their first military exercise of 2016.
As the Chinese military
expands its training sites and conditions, the Xinjiang base gives
troops a real combat situation under desert conditions.
Previous
drills were conducted at a training base in north China's Inner
Mongolia, cold regions in northeast China, and in highland jungles.
The
drill will improve troops' fighting abilities "in a wider area, a
larger space and in a more complicated environment," said a military
source.
The soldiers will be transported via a 5,900-kilometer
route from southern province of Guangdong to Xinjiang by train, air or
truck. Their mobilization, desert combat tactics and coordination will
be tested, and they will also carry out a combat exercise with an
infantry division of the Lanzhou Military Area Command.
Photos from last year's Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) drill
New Law Allows PLA to Undertake Counterterror Missions Overseas
China's new counter-terrorism law has made it legal for the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) to participate in counterterror missions overseas.
The PLA and the country's armed police forces may carry out such
operations with the approval from the Central Military Commission, says
the law adopted by top legislature on Sunday.
Public security and national security authorities may also send
personnel overseas for counter-terrorism missions, with the approval
from the State Council and agreements from concerned countries.
The law also stipulates that related departments, authorized by the
State Council, may collaborate with overseas governments and
international organizations in holding policy dialogues, communicating
on intelligence information, enforcing the law and regulating
international capitals.
The new law comes at a delicate time for China and for the world at
large - terror attacks in Paris, the bombing of a Russian passenger jet
over Egypt, and the brutal killings of hostages committed by the
notorious Islamic State (IS) extremist group are alerting the world
about an ever-growing threat of terrorism.
It will provide legal support to the country's counter-terrorism
activities as well as collaboration with the international society, said
An Weixing, an official with the public security ministry, at Sunday's
press conference.
