The Role of Chinese Armed Forces in Disaster Relief

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1 Presentation for the 10 th ARF on DR The Role of Chinese Armed Forces in Disaster Relief Sr. Col. Xu Weidi, Researcher Institute for Strategic Studies, NDU, PLA, China Sept. 3, 2010, Bangkok

2 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in DR operations II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 2

Police (PAP) are from, by and for the people. It is a must that they take DR as a basic task and save people in disasters.

3 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in DR operations 1. Chinese armed forces take DR operation as one of their strategic missions The People s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People s Armed Police (PAP) are from, by and for the people. It is a must that they take DR as a basic task and save people in disasters. Since the founding of the PRC, Chinese armed forces never stop in participating p in DR operations. Whenever a disaster happens, you will see PLA and PAP soon. PLA troops fighting flood in central China in

Recently, influenced by extreme climate,

disaster in Southern China in early 2008

2010 Yushu earthquake Center of downtown

4 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in HADR operations 2. Recently, influenced by extreme climate, China suffered lots of natural disasters. Chinese military invested large forces in DR Lots of natural disasters Snow ice disaster in Southern China in early 2008 Dozens of cities and towns became ruins in 2008 Wenchuan earthquake A train stuck by snowstorm in 2009 After Apr Yushu earthquake Center of downtown after Aug mud flood in Zhouqu Fighting flood in

5 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in HADR operations 2. Recently, influenced by extreme climate, China suffered lots of natural disasters. Chinese military invested large forces in DR Large military forces invested in DR operations In less than 2 years, PLA and PAP deployed forces in nearly 1 million soldiers times, equipments in 305 thousands times, airplane and hello in 162 sorties, saving and moving people in 4.5 million person times. At this moment, about 2000 soldiers are fighting with disasters. Now it s time for PLA and PAP to turn experiences into doctrines and SOPs Disaster itself is a kind of order 5

6 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in HADR operations 3. Chinese military actively participated p in international cooperation on disaster relief, mitigation and prevention Since 2002, Chinese military has conducted 23 international HADR mission, 50 billion material aids have been delivered to 19 disaster affecting states. Participation in IHADR operations in Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesiaand and Haiti. Conduct international DR cooperation. ARF seminars on military participation p in IHADR 6

7 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in DR operations II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 7

8 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 1. Setting up a four level DR commanding system corresponding to that of the civil government A parallel DR commanding systems DR LG of Cntrl. Gvnt. Prov./Rgnl. DR command county DR command Local DR command DR Cmdg. Grp. in GHQs. MG DR Command AOR DR Command Troop cmd. for DR operations Command and directive Coordinate and support 8

9 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 1. Setting up a four level DR commanding system corresponding to that of the civil government In PLA there is a tradition of front command and control. This often brings civil officials to the front lines. This is by no means to replace civil government function in DR operations. A field civil military joint commanding center in DR operations 9

10 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 2. Following civil government s demand and objective rules of DR operation, Chinese military s making preparationsp Preparation in doctrines and emergency DR plans On June 7, 2005, Central Military Commission (CMC) issued Doctrine For Military Participation In DR Operation. On Nov. 2006, authorized by the Central Committee of CCP, State Department and CMC, The General Work Plan For Military Response To Emergencies was issued to PLA and PAP. The Guidelines For Military Command And Control In Responding to Emergencies will be issued soon. CMC order on the Doctrine For Military Participation in DR Operations 10

11 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 2. Following civil government s demand and objective rules of DR operation, Chinese military s making preparations p Preparation in forces and DR training 8 specialized contingencies are built based on military troops with total strength of 50 thousand personnel. They re ordered be ready and joint in the DR standby arrangement by the end of this year. 11

DR training (2) The 8 contingencies are specialized in capabilities of flood fighting, earthquake rescue, NBC emergency rescue, air

12 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 2. Following civil government s demand and objective rules of DR operation, Chinese military s making preparationsp Preparation in forces and DR training (2) The 8 contingencies are specialized in capabilities of flood fighting, earthquake rescue, NBC emergency rescue, air transportation, quick road/bridge building, maritime search and rescue, emergency communication support, and medical support and epidemic prevention. Specialized DR training is organized. DR training 12

13 II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system 3. Main tasks for Chinese armed forces in DR operations Save, evacuate and transport affected people. Safeguard the security of key targets in disaster areas. Release and mitigate dangerous situation in disaster areas, preventing second time damages of a disaster from happening. Emergent evacuation and transport important materials. Participating in special DR operations. 13

14 I. Chinese armed forces play a mainstay role in DR operations II. Chinese armed forces work in the framework of government DR commanding system III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 14

15 III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 1. DR is a new type of combined operation, the key to its success lies in trans agency cooperation DR operation is a job beyond any single agency. A disaster s damage affects almost all aspects of a society A sense of trans agency cooperation would be an necessary starting point for DR operation. A need for joint working plan and joint training No matter which forces is working as the main body of DR strength, we need integrated efforts. 15

16 III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 2. New type of inter agency yjoint contingent, the priority of DR capability development? Due to geographical condition, it is often that a large troop can not be used in disaster areas. Lessons learned in Wenchuan, Yushu and Zhouqu. Chinese International Rescue team as example Based on an army engineer unit, reinforced by PAP medical experts and seismologists. More capable than common troops. Facing with disaster, a special enemy, we need special professionalism Chinese International Rescue Team 16

17 III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 3. Dealing with suddenness Natural disasters are by natural unpredictable. Preparing for the suddenness Information go first. A civil mill information sharing institution was set up after 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and played good role in Yushu DR operation. Standby forces. Locations of deployment is important. Assets restoration for DR operations: food, drinking water, tents and blankets, medicine and blood, etc. Should be integrated in national emergency restore plan. Transportation and delivering capabilities. 17

18 III. A few ideas and consideration on DR operation 4. Always imperfect Nature and Human being, who is stronger? Human being should be part of nature. Being harmony between nature and human being, the highest bourn of life. Nature is a severe teacher for human being We learned from the disasters and become wiser. Chinese military made some efforts in disaster relief, mitigation and prevention, but far from perfect Willing to learn from and cooperate with other ARF members. Usually, a large scale natural disaster is beyond a single nation s ability to cope with. Let s work together. 18

19 Thank you for your attention Questions & comments? 19

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