Ministry of Public Security Active Service Forces

Ministry of Public Security Active Service Forces
公安现役部队
Cap insignia of the People's Armed Police
Cap insignia of the People's Armed Police
Agency overview
FormedJune 19, 1982
DissolvedJanuary 1, 2019
Superseding agencyNational Immigration Administration
Ministry of Public Security Special Service Bureau [zh]
China Fire and Rescue
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyChina
Operations jurisdictionChina
Governing bodyMinistry of Public Security (China)
General nature

Ministry of Public Security Active Services Forces (MPSASF) (Chinese: 公安现役部队) was a term referring to three separate agencies under the command of the Ministry of Public Security however were composed of People's Armed Police personnel. Its name comes from the fact that since the personnel were considered PAP personnel, they were treated as active service military personnel.[1][2] After the Deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions in 2018, Border Defense Corps and Guard Corps personnel became People's Police personnel, while the China Fire Services were merged with the People's Armed Police Forestry Corps [zh] and became the China Fire and Rescue, making the use of the term defunct.[3]

Border Defense Corps

[edit]
Badge of the Border Defense Corps
image icon https://web.archive.org/web/20250318020410/https://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-03/23/129835969_15217713315871n.jpg
A Fujian Border Defense Corps [zh] officer in Xiamen

Prior to the 2018 People's Armed Police reform, the People's Armed Police Border Defense Corps [zh] (Chinese: 武警边防部队; pinyin: Wǔjǐng Biānfáng Bùdùi), more commonly known as the Ministry of Public Security Border Defense Corps (Chinese: 公安边防部队), was formerly China's primary border patrol agency. It's jobs were primarily intended to prevent drug trafficking, illegal immigration and smuggling.[4] When it was active, The Border Defense Corps was under the command of the defunct Ministry of Public Security Border Control Department [zh].[5]

The People's Armed Police Border Defense corps was officially disbanded on December 25, 2018.[6]

After the 2018 reform, the border defense corps was disbanded and transferred to the National immigration Administration, with its officers switching from being People's Armed Police to People's Police.[1][7] From 1980 to the transferral of the Border Defense Corps, a total of 86 units and 519 personnel were awarded 1st class meritorious service medals, 411 units and 4614 personnel were awarded 2nd class meritorious service medals and 179 personnel were awarded martyr status.[6]

History

[edit]

The Tianjin Border Defense Corps can trace it's lineage back to March 1949, when the Tianjin Pier Inspection group and Port inspection group were established.[8]

The Border Defense Armed Police was established in November 1949 as part of the Ministry of Public Security.[6][9]

In January 1980, the Border Defense Armed Police was renamed to the People's Armed Police Border Defense Corps.[9]

On June 19, 1982, the Border Defense Corps was handed to the newly established People's Armed Police. In August 1985, the Border Defense Corps was moved under the control of the Ministry of Public Security, however it was continued to be composed of PAP personnel.[9]

Out of six PAP personnel killed during the Barin riots, four were Border Defense Corps personnel, including Lt. Col. Xu Xinjian.[10]

Sixteen personnel of the Border Defense Corps were killed in the 2008 Kashgar attack.[11]

Between September 18 and September 19, 2011, the Yadong Battalion and Yadong Border Checkpoint of the Border Defense Corps deployed 90 personnel, 11 vehicles and 30 tents to assist with disaster relief after the 2011 Sikkim Earthquake.[12]

In the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake 21 officers of the Gyirong Border Checkpoint had all access routes cut off for 12 days, where they remained to provide disaster relief and assisted in helicopter evacuations of civilians on the 28th of April.[6][13] During the same earthquake, Private Zhang Gaoyong of the Nyalam Border Checkpoint Patrol company was heavily injured while attempting to use his body as a human shield against incoming rocks to protect a child. He later recovered from his injuries.[6][14]

On January 29, 2016, after receiving shared intel from the HKPF of a panama-registered cargo ship named Fuyun smuggling frozen meat off the coast of Mirs Bay, the Shenzhen Border Defense Detachment Longgang Battalion deployed 2 speedboats and successfully intercepted the Fuyun, boarding and seizing the ship and bringing it to Nan'ao Subdistrict. A total of 13 foreign sailors from Indonesia and Myanmar, the Burmese captain and 7 Chinese sailors were arrested. A total of 71 boxes with 2219 tonnes of smuggled frozen meat was seized, with a total worth of approximately 200 million RMB. An investigation ruled that the smuggled meat was headed towards Shantou, and that much of the meat was passed it's expiry date or had diseases; The seizing of the "Fuyun" was the largest seizure of smuggled meat by the Guangdong Border Defense Corps in 10 years.[15][16]

On January 16, 2017, the 1st Mobile Company, Honghe Border Defense Corps was deployed to fight bandits engaging in extortion along the highway between Mengzi and Hekou, resulting in a shootout where Border Defense PFC Zhang Hao was shot multiple times. All bandits were apprehended, along with two improvised firearms and three nail guns confiscated.[17][18]

In 2018 when the Border Defense Corps was disbanded, 20 units and 31 personnel of the Guangdong Border Defense Corps received honorary titles, along with 21 units and 82 personnel receiving 1st Class Meritorious Service Medals and 18 personnel achieving martyr status.[7]

Inter-agency cooperation

[edit]

The Border Defense Corps previously had intel sharing with local Economic Crimes Investigation units [zh], the HKPF, the General Administration of Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau [zh] along with local Public Security Bureau Public Order units.[15]

On September 23, 2009, the Shenzhen Border Defense Detachment conducted a joint anti-hijacking exercise with the HKPF. In the process, a crew member from the Shenzhen Border Defense Detachment fell into the water. Border Defense officers Liu Cheng, Shen Weixiong and Qiu Wenliang attempted to save the crew member which resulted in the 3 border defense officers being killed by the propeller. Qiu's body was found 3 days later, and on September 28 all 3 officers were given Martyr status.[19][20]

International cooperation
[edit]

The Border Defense Corps has also been deployed in UN Peacekeeping operations. Between 2006 and 2018, the Border Defense Corps was deployed in peacekeeping 10 times, with a total of 1325 officers being deployed for peacekeeping.[6]

In November 27–28 of 2011, the Guangxi Border Defense Corps had a meeting and signed a treaty with the Vietnam Border Guard's Lạng Sơn, Cao Bằng and Quảng Ninh provincial commands regarding cooperation against international crime and illegally crossing borders.[21]

War on drugs in the China-Myanmar border by the Border Defense Corps

[edit]

The Border Defense Corps has a history of intercepting armed incursions by drug traffickers on the China-Myanmar border, especially due to smuggling routes across the Shweli River. On August 2, 1997, Border Defense officer Corporal Yin Mingzhi was stabbed by a drug trafficker during an undercover sting operation in Longchuan County near the China-Myanmar Border, dying of his wounds a day later.[22]

Mukang Border Checkpoint

The Dehong Border Defense detachment's Mukang Border Checkpoint (木康边境检查站) on G320 between Dehong and Baoshan, established in 1978, is one of the most decorated Chinese border checkpoints, receiving 7 Meritorious Service medals, 8 2nd class Meritorious Service medals and 9 3rd class meritorious service medals. On August 3, 2001, it was given the honorary title of "Anti-Narcotics Pioneer checkpoint" by the State council due to seizing some of the most drugs out of all Chinese border checkpoints. In 2018, it was handed to the NIA; between 2001 and 2021, the checkpoint handled over 8000 narcotics cases and 926 smuggling cases, arrested over 5500 suspects, and seizing a total of over 5.26 tonnes of drugs, 650 tonnes of improvised drug injection needles, 12 firearms, 170 rounds of ammunition and 59.22 million RMB of smuggled goods.[23][24][6]

On March 25, 2007, officers of the Border Defense Corps were ambushed by ten armed drug traffickers with sub-machine guns and grenades, killing officers 2nd Lieutenant Gan Zurong, Major Bai Jiangang and Captain Xu Shengqian.[25]

On August 22, 2011, and October 22, 2011, Border Defense Corps K9 Handler Private Yao Yuanjun and Political Commissar Major Chen Shihua drowned while engaging in melee fighting with drug traffickers in separate incidents, respectively.[25] Private Yao Yuanjun's K9 "Big Wolf" became a center of a lot of attention on Chinese Social Media after he was filmed on national TV wandering around training grounds, unaware his handler had died.[26]

The Border Defense Coast Guard's badge

Organization

[edit]

Each coastal/border province-level subdivision or direct-administered municipality would have had a border defense Corps, every border/coastal prefecture-level division would have a border defense detachment, every border/coastal county level subdivision would have a border defense battalion; Township level subdivisions would each have a border defense police station. Prior to the establishment of the CCG in 2013, there would also be Border Defense Corps Coast Guard [zh] flotillas and squadrons. The Border Defense Corps additionally operated checkpoints on roads heading towards border crossings along with border checkpoints.[5]

Special operations units

[edit]
Badge of the Snowy Eagle Female Special Service team
image icon https://photo.81.cn/pla/2015-03/19/content_6398233_5.htm

Snowy Eagle Female Special Service team

[edit]
Flag of the Snowy Eagle Female Special Service team
image icon https://photo.81.cn/pla/2015-03/19/content_6398233_8.htm

In April 2012, the Xinjiang Border Defense Corps Female Special Service team (新疆公安边防总队女子特勤分队) was founded. In March 2015 it was renamed to the "Snowy Eagle Female Special Service team" (雪鹰女子特勤分队) at the Xinjiang Border Corps Training Base.[32][33] At its founding in 2012, it only had 6 members, and by March 2015 it had 34 members.[34] It assisted in security at the China Eurasia Expo multiple times.[35]

Maritime Special Service team

[edit]

The Shenzhen Border Defense Detachment operated the Maritime Special Service Team [zh] (Nicknamed "Maritime Jiaolongs"), a police tactical unit which is dedicated to maritime anti-terrorism, search and rescue, combat diving and VBSS.[36]

It was established on August 18, 2008, and initially consisted of only 20+ members.[37] The unit often conducts joint exercises with the HKPF Marine Region, and also received training from the PLA Naval Submarine Academy [zh].[37]

Training
[edit]

The Maritime Special Service Team's training requirements include swimming 3000 meters with full gear, running 5000 meters, 200 push ups, sit ups and squats.[38]

Guard Corps

[edit]
Badge of the Guard Corps
image icon http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2018-03/23/129835969_15217713324921n.jpg

Prior to the 2018 reform, the Ministry of Public Security Guard Corps [zh] (Chinese: 公安警卫部队), officially known as the People's Armed Police Guard Corps (Chinese: 武警警卫部队) was a branch of the People's Armed Police.[1] After the 2018 reform, the Guard Corps were disbanded and re-organized into the Ministry of Public Security Special Service Bureau [zh] on January 1, 2019.[39][40] Provincial Guard Corpss were also renamed to Guard Bureaus of provincial Public Security Departments.[41] Similar to the Border Defense Corps and the China Fire Services [zh], the Guard Corps were under the command of the Ministry of Public Security Guards Bureau [zh] (now the Special Service Bureau) however its personnel were part of the PAP.[40][42]

The Guard Corps were responsible for roles such as VIP protection, protecting important conferences along with provincial government leaders.[42][43]

History

[edit]

Guard Corps personnel became part of the PAP on March 23, 1984.[9]

The Guard Corps were responsible for protecting the World Conference on Women 1995, the handover of Hong Kong, the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the Handover of Macau, the 2006 FOCAC summit, the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, APEC China 2014, the 2015 China Victory Day Parade, the 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit and the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.[42][44]

Organization

[edit]

Before 2018, each province had its own Guard Corps Corps, which was under the Guards Bureau of the provincial Public Security Department. This was converted into Provincial Special Service Bureaus under the Provincial Public Security Department[40][42]

China Fire Services

[edit]
Badge of the China Fire Services
Emblem of the CFS

The China Fire Services [zh] (CFS), officially known as the Ministry of Public Security Firefighting Corps (公安消防部队) or the People's Armed Police Firefighting Corps (武警消防部队) in Chinese was China's primary firefighting agency prior to the 2018 reforms. After 2018, the China Fire Services was merged with the People's Armed Police Forestry Corps [zh] to form the National Fire and Rescue Administration.[1] China Fire Services personnel were part of PAP however the China Fire Services were organizationally speaking of the now defunct Ministry of Public Security Firefighting Bureau [zh].[1] On October 10, 2018, the CFS was disbanded.[45]

History

[edit]

20 CFS firefighters died putting out the 2003 Hengyang fire.[46]

China Fire Services Ningbo Fire Department firefighters conducting disaster relief after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

The China Fire Services were the first responders to the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. By May 18, 2008, the China Fire Services rescued 5796 people stuck under rubble, provided aid to 259 injured people, recovered the bodies of 639 bodies, provided relief to 3759 people who were stuck and evacuated 47152 more people and transported 705.3 tonnes of aid.[47]

On June 27, 2012, in the China Fire Services Wuhai Fire Department's Wuda District 2nd Company, 8 older firefighters continuously beat and verbally abused 5 new firefighters as part of a hazing ritual. The footage was leaked onto Weibo on December 9, 2013, sparking public outrage; this incident is often referred to as the 2013 Wuhai firefighter hazing incident [zh].[48][49]

On January 2, 2015, 5 firefighters of the China Fire Services Harbin Fire Department died during the 2015 Harbin Warehouse Fire [zh].[50]

Remains of a fire truck of the China Fire Services damaged in the 2015 Tianjin Explosion in the China Fire Museum [zh]

During the 2015 Tianjin explosions on August 12, 2015, the China Fire Services Tianjin Fire Department lost a total of 24 firefighters(dead or presumed dead) and had 69 more injured.[51]

Organization

[edit]
Badge of the China Fire Services Sichuan Fire Department

Equipment

[edit]

Firearms/Individual weapons

[edit]

Vehicles

[edit]

Helicopters

[edit]

Vessels

[edit]

Line of duty deaths

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Runping, Yao (2018-03-23). "致敬!再见了公安边防、消防、警卫,武警黄金、森林、水电" [Salutations! Goodbye to the border defense, MPS firefighting corps, MPS guard corps, PAP gold, forestry and hydropower corps]. Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  2. ^ "步步坚实 衔接有序——跨军地改革工作成效显著". Central government of the People's Republic of China. 2019-07-22.
  3. ^ "公安邊防、警衛部隊舉行集體換裝和入警宣誓儀式". People's Daily. 2019-01-01.
  4. ^ "Armed Police Force". Ministry of National Defense. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "公安边防简介" [About Us - Ministry of Public Security Border Control Department]. The Border Control Department of the Ministry of Public Security. 2008-04-29. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "再见,武警边防,你好,人民警察" [Goodbye, PAP Border Defense, Hello, People's Police]. The Paper. 2018-12-25. Archived from the original on 2025-05-05. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  7. ^ a b c "脱下军装-换上警服-广东公安边防警卫部队集体换装". Guangdong Provincial Government. 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  8. ^ "再见,天津公安边防,你好,天津人民警察!". The Paper. 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  9. ^ a b c d Zhang, Haihua (2016-03-06). "武警部队历史沿革" [History of the People's Armed Police]. Chinese Military. Archived from the original on 2024-11-30. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  10. ^ "许新建:用生命捍卫祖国边防战线" [Sacrifice for defense of the border]. Xinhua News Agency. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  11. ^ "喀什武警出早操遭袭16人牺牲16人受伤". Sina. Chongqing evening news. 2008-08-05.
  12. ^ "西藏遭印度锡金邦6.8级地震波及-亚东边防官兵全力抗震救灾" [Tibet affected by Sikkim 6.8 earthquake - Yadong border defense personnel deployed to assist with disaster relief]. Ministry of Public Security. 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  13. ^ Xiao, Fugui (2015-05-26). Wang, Pengfei (ed.). "震后三十天——西藏吉隆边检站官兵救灾手记". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  14. ^ Huang, Xing; Zheng, Yongbo (2015-05-08). Yang, Ting (ed.). "西藏地震救人受伤边防战士张高勇手术成功". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  15. ^ a b c 《今日说法》 20161220 公安边防部队"固边系列行动"专题报道:神秘的富运号 (Video) (in Chinese). CCTV-1. 2016-12-20.
  16. ^ "广东边防查获十年来全国最大走私冻品案". Ministry of Public Security.
  17. ^ Dong, Yue, ed. (2017-06-05). "19岁武警战士身中数弹,仍与歹徒搏斗". Chinese Military. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  18. ^ Cai, Chunlin; Tian, Hong, eds. (2017-06-22). "面对持枪歹徒 这个95后战士中弹18处又追了800米". CCTV. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  19. ^ a b c d "深圳市公安局深切缅怀英烈:忠诚警魂不朽,英烈精神永存". Nanfang Daily.
  20. ^ "诏安:演习时救人牺牲 受伤后大喊:"先救我兄弟!"". Sina. Haiwainet. 2010-01-26.
  21. ^ "广西公安边防总队与越南北部三省边防部队就加强边境治安合作举行会谈". Ministry of Public Security Border Control Department. 2011-11-29. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  22. ^ "尹铭志:与毒贩殊死搏斗 20岁血洒边疆". Xinhua News Agency. 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  23. ^ "木康边境检查站:永葆缉毒先锋的英雄本色". Yunnan news. 2021-08-13.
  24. ^ "云南德宏边境管理支队木康边境检查站执勤三中队:车流中民警汗流浃背查验". Ministry of Public Security. 2021-06-13.
  25. ^ a b "中缅边境缉毒亲历记:武警在漫天杂草中"生擒"吸毒者" [Anti-drug operations on the China-Myanmar border]. People's Daily. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  26. ^ ""大狼"不知道为什么主人突然就不来了" [K9 "Big Wolf" does not know why his handler is gone]. The Paper. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  27. ^ "上海市公安局边防和港航公安分局今日成立". Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau. 2020-05-20.
  28. ^ "公安边防、警卫部队举行集体换装和入警宣誓仪式". Tianjin General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier inspection.
  29. ^ "省政府新闻办 "河北边检服务全省经济社会高质量发展" 新闻发布会文字实录". Hebei Great Wall media.
  30. ^ "甘肃出入境边防检查总站改革转隶五周年, 构建安全新格局". China Daily. 2023-12-06.
  31. ^ "莫道关山阻且远 万里尽是护边人——新疆出入境边防检查总站护边员队伍建设纪实". National Immigration Administration.
  32. ^ "边防部队首支"雪鹰女子特勤分队"正式成立". Chinese Military. 2015-03-19.
  33. ^ a b "公安边防首支 女子"特种部队"成立". People's Daily. 2015-03-13.
  34. ^ "公安边防部队首支"雪鹰女子特勤分队"正式成立". Phoenix television. 2015-03-15.
  35. ^ "组图:边防部队雪鹰女子特勤分队正式成立". Xinhua.
  36. ^ "深圳:海上特勤隊舉行海上反恐演習". Central government of the PRC. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  37. ^ a b "探訪水陸特勤隊:"蛙人"本領超凡 深港邊境護安全". Ta Kung Pao. 2012-10-16. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
  38. ^ "海上蛟龙". China.com. 2017-07-09.
  39. ^ "省公安厅特勤局举行集体换装入警宣誓仪式". Sina. Hunan Provincial Public Security Department. 2019-01-02. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30.
  40. ^ a b c "公安边防、警卫部队举行集体换装和入警宣誓仪式". Central Government of the PRC. 2019-01-02.
  41. ^ "中国人民武装警察部队". Lanzhou Resources & Environment Voc-Tech University [zh]. 2020-04-14.
  42. ^ a b c d "赵克志在公安部警卫局调研时强调 增强"四个意识" 贯彻"四个必须" 永远做让党和人民放心的忠诚卫士". Ministry of Public Security. 2017-11-17.
  43. ^ "李理". MPS Honor Roll.
  44. ^ "王建军". MPS Honor Roll.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "应急管理部发布国家综合性消防救援队伍改革过渡期身份标识牌". Chinese government. 2018-10-10.
  46. ^ "你的名字,你的忠诚,依然清晰……". The Paper. 2018-09-30.
  47. ^ "公安消防官兵在地震灾区抢救埋压人员5796人" [China Fire Services firefighters rescue 5796 people]. Ministry of Public Security. 2008-05-18.
  48. ^ "内蒙古消防老兵轮番暴打新兵 被打者鼻口出血". People's Daily. 2013-12-10.
  49. ^ "视频曝光内蒙消防老兵打新兵". Sina. 2013-12-10.
  50. ^ "Five firefighters die in Harbin warehouse collapse". South China Morning Post. 2015-01-02.
  51. ^ Xin, Wen. "天津市公安消防总队长周天:这是一场史无前例的战斗". china.com.
  52. ^ a b c d e "再见,武警边防,你好,人民警察" [Goodbye, PAP Border Defense, Hello, People's Police]. The Paper. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  53. ^ "上海首架消防直升机将投用-主要作用是救援". People's Daily. 2013-11-06.
  54. ^ "Shanghai Border Defense Coast Guard Squadron conducts exercise". Chinese Chinese Government. 2008-11-20.
  55. ^ https://www.andrewerickson.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Chinas-Maritime-Gray-Zone-Operations_Volume_CHINESE-TRADITIONAL-TRANSLATION_Chapter_Erickson-Hickey-Holst.pdf
  56. ^ "上海首艘古镇消防船在金山上岗 水炮射程超30米". China National Radio. 2018-06-22.
  57. ^ "深港走私船狂撞缉私艇 一死六伤". China Review News Agency Limited [zh]. 2005-11-09.
  58. ^ a b c "深圳边防武警1死5伤". Sohu. Xi'an Evening News [zh]. 2006-04-23.
[edit]