China's Snow Leopard Commando Unit [File photo]

In China, the best well known special force is the the Snow Leopard Commando Unit (SLCU), which is a special police unit of under the People's Armed Police of China. Its top priority tasks are counter-terrorism, riot control, and other special tasks such as anti-hijacking, and bomb disposal. The team had been known as the Snow Wolf Commando Unit and changed into current name in 2007.

Since the establishment in 2002, SLCU soldiers were under seceret training untill 2007. Along with the Beijing SWAT unit, SLCU was tasked with many of the security responsibilities of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Each of soldiers is estimated to be outfitted with 300,000 yuan (approximately US$ 39,000) worth of equipment, including their body armor, communications equipment. They are required to be a superman in strength, stamina, fighting skills and to show a spirit of self-sacrifice.

The current average age of SLCU officers is 22 years, thus making them amongst the youngest in the counter-terrorism community.

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