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Security for 60th anniversary beefed up

By Wang Huazhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-24 08:24

About 3,000 uniformed police yesterday roared in unison an oath to ensure public safety during celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Personnel from the Chinese People's Armed Police Force's Snow Leopard Commando Unit, which guarded Beijing during last year's Olympic Games, take an oath yesterday to safeguard the capital during the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October. [China Daily/Liu Yongsheng]

Marking the 100-day countdown to the October 1 anniversary, the police gathered at the western Beijing sports center to promise to safeguard the event from violence and disorder. Security will be stepped up in the capital from today until the end of the weeklong celebration, when security standards will be as stringent as those during the Beijing Olympic Games.

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Speaking exclusively to China Daily, the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection said it would assign a specialist task force of 60 officers to protect the safety of political leaders and VIPs visiting the city during the anniversary.

Plainclothes police and security cameras will monitor the capital's airports in an effort to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries.

"We estimate politicians, special guests and travelers attracted to Beijing for the special occasion will land at the airport with more than 100 chartered flights," Cui Zhen, an official of the inspection body, said in a telephone interview yesterday.

"Soon, we will coordinate with state and public security agencies to guarantee their safe stay throughout their entire journey".

This is part of an initiative to tighten border control during the event, during which 1,000 police will oversee security, Cui said.

"Vigilant guard around Tian'anmen Square at that time will absolutely be harsher than early this month," Wu Shunfa said, who is in charge of public security at Tian'anmen and was among those who made the oath yesterday.

His officers will ensure key events, such as the October 1 troop review, and planned fun fairs and fireworks shows, are conducted safely and undisrupted, he said.

Yang Huanning, vice minister of public security, said there were serious threats to public security, and that public safety had been further undermined by the global economic downturn, but he did not provide further details.

"Security work must be treated as the top priority of our political tasks and an overwhelmingly important mission," Yang said.

Beijing will attract the eyes of the world with its gala celebration, group performance and advanced weapons display as part of a troop review in Tian'anmen Square.

China's last troop review was held in 1999, when the passing of military troops and weapons in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum was not open to civilians. However some people managed to see the missiles from Chang'an street.

Yang said the city's security bureau had withstood security tests from large public events in the past and would ensure this celebration was a happy and festive one.