China Deploys Military for Olympics

China has deployed units of its army, navy and air force in and around Beijing in preparation for potential attacks during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday (see GSN, June 25).

Security checkpoints, trained personnel and detection technology are being installed to prevent use of chemical or nuclear weapons against Olympic venues.

The military is also equipped with a chemical response force, engineers, helicopters, warplanes, ships, missiles and radar gear in order to deal with any security threats, said Tian Yixiang, military affairs director for China’s Olympic security command center.

Command of the forces has been divided between four centers headquartered in Beijing and the nearby cities of Jinan, Nanjing and Shenyang, he said.

The Olympics are scheduled from Aug. 8-24 (Xinhua News Agency/Yahoo!News, July 10).

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