People's Armed Police
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The People's Armed Police Force (人民武装警察部队; renmin wuzhuang jingcha budui) is a paramilitary police force responsible for domestic security within the People's Republic of China. The PAP is not normally deployed and in contrast to the unarmed regular People's Police who are members of the Ministry of Public Security, PAP members carry sidearms and others weapons are available as needed. Also in contrast to public security officers, the PAP wears olive green instead of dark gray or blue uniforms of the Peoples Police.
An individual policeman in this organization was called an armed police (武警). As of January 1, 2005, such position has been renamed as an internal guard (內衛). New arm patches reflect this change.
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History
The PAP was spun off from the People's Liberation Army in April 1983 and was intended to remove domestic security functions from the People's Liberation Army.
Mission
The PAP's primary mission is the protection of government buildings at all level of government. Additionally it provides internal security and security police functions to public corporations and deals with major public events.
Organization
The PAP maintains a general headquarters at the national level located in Beijing and subordinate division-level headquarters located in the provincial capitals. It also maintains various specialized units, regimental-level detachments, and battalion-level brigades, and it retains its military organization. PAPF units assigned to internal security are responsible for guarding party and state organizations and foreign embassies and consulates, as well as for responding to emergencies and maintaining law and order. The PAP also has a special unit for counter-terrorist functions.
The Taiwan Situation
It has been speculated by various medias that the People's Republic of China would use the armed police force to occupy Taiwan instead of using the People's Liberation Army should it deem necessary. This is because the armed police force received training similar to that of the regular army, has advanced equipments and more importantly the use of the police force would make the situation an "internal affair" and would make foreign intervention more difficult politically.
See also Immediate Action Unit
External Links
- PAP Organization (http://www.sinodefence.com/army/orbat/pap.asp)zh:中华人民共和国武装警察部队