[China] Candid Camera: Severe Atmosphere, Beijing Police Patrol with Assault Weapons for First Time

Boxun ^ | 07/18/08

[TigerLikesRooster]

Candid Camera: Severe Atmosphere, Beijing Police Patrol with Assault Weapons for First Time

By Boxun

Jul 18, 2008 - 3:09:14 PM

With less than 20 days until the Olympics, Beijing's streets have seen an increase in Peoples Armed Police in full riot gear, police with special duties and regular beat police. The police are carrying semi-automatic assault weapons for the first time. From the grim expressions on these policemen's faces, it is clear that they are prepared for a surprise attack. Beijing citizens expressed to Boxun that not even after the military crackdown in Tiananmen Square in 1989 did police take to the streets with machine guns, it feels like they are confronting a mortal enemy and has the feeling of a war zone like Iraq.

According to our news sources, in the whole-hearted commitment to hosting a safe and secure Olympics, these police are given an opportunity to play with these guns. At different times Beijing has declared that they would host a "Green Olympics," "Humane Olympics," "Science and Technology Olympics," and "Good Luck Beijing." None of these slogans were ever raised again. A "Secure and Peaceful Olympics" has superceded all, with slogans about security dominating streets. For all these years, the mainland's masses have become accustomed to expecting the opposite of the propaganda in mainstream media. These phenomena indicate that the Olympics may be anything but secure and peaceful.

In a related news item, it has been reported that in order to accommodate all these armed police, scientific institutions have been cleared out. In one scientific research institution, more than 800 armed police are being billeted.

[arderkrag]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiigggggghhhttt...

If you weren't trying to convince anyone, you wouldn't be here. No one comes here "just to report". That's garbage.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Nobody intent on make protests would do it now. They would happen during the Olympic games, if they do. However, there won't be much spontaneity.

[compound w]

Sorry, but being here in Beijing, I just thought it would be appropriate for me to describe what I’m seeing. I’m really not a bad fellow, and if you see my earlier posts (the ones not about China) you may find you agree with some of them.

Granted I haven’t been here long, but I am a loyal, conservative, Republican. But I do favor accuracy in reporting.

[riverrunner]

I see this officer has brought his lunch on a leash.

[Fred Nerks]

I appreciate your reporting here, I see no reason whatever to doubt your information. Enjoy your stay in China and a safe return home.

[sergeantdave]

I’m sure there are thousands of western leftists in China willing to serve as tour guides for the latest Potemkin village.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Photos certainly look more benign than Heathrow, 1991.

[DB]

Chill.

[Allegra]

I, for one, appreciate your reporting. Pleawse keep it up.

I understand very well how different the media's version of an event can be from the reality.

Will you be there during the Games?

[Thumper1960]

As large as Beijing is, I'm certain there's a difference in security precautions taken in various sectors. In NYC, one can find heavy police presence in one area, not much in another. All depends on where you are, what authorities know about certain areas and what they're doing in each. Enjoy your stay and enjoy the Olympics. Take with a grain of salt the hysterics who see a disruptor behind every bush. It's a unique form of political illness.

[Tainan]

Thanks for your observations. Some peckerheads have no idea how big Beijing is. Its not surprising at all that you would not see this activity in your daily routine.
Enjoy your trip, eat a lot of good food and stay safe.

[Pilsner]

I was in Shanghai and Guangzhou (Canton) last month. I saw a lot of cops, and a few Army troops, but no weapons beyond handguns. In fact I noted that the Army troops did not wear covers (hats) unless they were armed.

Let me say this very carefully. In my very limited experience, the security officials in China were far more polite, to the locals as well as me, than their American counter parts.

Yes, I know that China is a foul dictatorship. But the impression I got was that, as a matter of policy, the security people are exceedingly polite -- right up to the point that you really annoy them. Then, of course, they drag you off, hold a quick show trial, ending in a speedy execution, or long term of hard labor on starvation rations. It is the old iron fist in the velvet glove.

But most people in China, knowing the score, knowing that if they over power the local beat cop with a 9mm, a regiment of tanks will roll through the neighborhood, don't get that crossways with security officials. Seeing a lot of guys running around with automatic weapons, I can see that the locals may be very concerned that those automatic weaps will be used on them.

[MARKUSPRIME]

Yep hes a chicom troll.

[wrench]

Are you a mouthpiece for the Communists?........................................................

Yes. Been here 2 weeks, yet calls himself a Reagan Republican. Me thinks he is a young Chinese national working a summer job for his government.

[compound w]

“I appreciate your reporting here, I see no reason whatever to doubt your information. Enjoy your stay in China and a safe return home.”

Thank you much! We’ll head for home in about 3 weeks, just before the games begin.

[compound w]

Thanks Allegra! We will leave here the day before the games begin.

[JACKRUSSELL]

A ping list dedicated to exposing the quality, safety and security issues of food and other products made in China.


Please FReepmail me if you would like to be on or off of the list.

(This can be a high volume ping list.)

[compound w]

Thanks! I’m sure you’re right about there being differences in security from sector to sector. I guess the closer I travel to the games site, and the nearer before they begin, the stricter the security will be. About three weeks ago we traveled freely around the area where they’ll have the Decathalon. It’s a beautiful site (and sight!).

[compound w]

Thanks Tainan. The food here is wonderful. Are you from Tainan? I’ve been there too!

[rbmillerjr]

It is going to be funny watching the leftist western media, sugar-coating the beefed up security.

They’ll do stories about the muslim minority and possibility of terrorist attack (which is a possibility). But, make no mistake the beefed up security is meant to be intimidating and coercive to anybody who would dare protest the communist government in China.

There will be no or little protesting and I’m sure the hardline message is being sent out in no uncertain terms as we speak.

---

On a positive note, I’m very interested in China and look forward to some of the stories on Chinese progress in the economic realm and hearing some Chinese speak about their new reforms.

Did anybody see the Ted Koppel (ugg) special, I missed it but did tape parts 3 and 4.