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Police contingent promoted

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-29 09:12

The armed police contingent in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been elevated in status to highlight its greater role in the fight against terrorism.

The Central Military Commission has decided to promote the Xinjiang contingent "from the deputy corps command to the full corps command", the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

Yu Linxiang, political commissar of the People's Armed Police Forces (PAPF), announced the promotion at a meeting earlier in the week.

The move is "an important decision" made out of the consideration of safeguarding national security, social stability and maintaining long-term peace and stability in Xinjiang, Yu said.

Dai Sujun was appointed commander of the contingent and Hou Xiaoqin was named political commissar.

As a component of China's armed forces and subordinate to the State Council, the PAPF comes under the dual leadership of the State Council and the Central Military Commission. It has a total force of 660,000.