A security official with the upcoming Beijing Olympics said in Beijing on Thursday that troops from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) were in position to ensure the safety of the Games.

The military had been deployed and were capable of completing various security tasks, said Tian Yixiang, director of military affairs department under the Security Command Center for the Games of the 29th Olympiad.

Army, Navy, Air force mobilized

During the Olympics, the PLA army, navy and air force would be coordinated and deployed based on the principle of "proximity," Tian told Xinhua.

Land forces based in Beijing and three neighboring military command areas, including Shenyang, Jinan and Nanjing, would help to safeguard the Games, he said.

Special forces such as an army air unit, an engineering force and chemical defense troops would join the mission, he noted, adding combat aircraft, helicopter, warships, missiles, chemical defense equipment and radar would be used in case of security threats.

Air force

To ensure safety, Beijing would follow other host cities in setting up a no-fly zone, Tian said.

The air force would prevent and tackle emergencies, especially terrorist attacks, based on information sent by its defense system.

A four-step countermeasure, including warning, interception, forced landing and attack, would be adapted for invading subjects.

Troops would also cooperate with public security departments to exercise strict ground control and ban the lift-off of any small aircraft, Tian said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2008)