The Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. has launched a recruitment campaign in a bid to find 30 eligible men for security guards on its planes.

The State Council approved the establishment of air police in early February this year to step up China's efforts to combat terrorism and provide security for passengers.

During the campaign beginning on Sunday, Shanghai residents aged below 25 and with a university background are qualified to apply. Those with martial arts or military training will be preferred candidates, according to company officials.

China plans to recruit around 2,000 guards for its air police force, which will be dispatched by the public security bureau of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) to local airlines, according to CAAC director Liu Jianfeng.

The guards, who are to receive rigorous training in anti-terrorism, anti-hijacking and bomb disposal skills, will be under the administration of both the CAAC public security bureau and local airlines, Liu said.

( People's Daily July 9, 2002 )