PLA formulates rules to curb growing terrorist threat

Beijing, July 31(ANI): The Chinese army is formulating rules of engagement for Anti-Terrorism Combat Operations to deal with growing terrorist threat facing the country.

"The army is drafting an Ordinance for Anti-terrorism Combat Operations based on its experience in anti-terror missions over the past few years," The China Daily quoted Major General Meng Guoping, as saying.

The move would mark the first time since its founding 82 years ago that the 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) would have separate regulations for anti-terrorism operations.

Major Meng, who is the Deputy Director of the war operations department under the General Staff Department of the PLA, further said that the army would also publish a set of combat guidelines on anti-terror operations for the whole armed forces.

"The guidelines will regulate the anti-terror mission's responsibility, composition, command and logistics support," he added.

Recognising the growing threat of global and domestic terrorist activities, Meng highlighted the importance of military in curbing terrorism and said that the army can be given the main task of providing specialized anti-terror forces and intelligence support.

"The PLA has included anti-terror combat training in its elite armed forces divisions since last year and each army division has set up its task force for emergency response,"" he added.

Meng also added that more exchanges would be made with foreign armed forces, including information sharing on anti-terrorism. (ANI)