Photo:People's Daily

Photo:People's Daily

Amidst the 12th year marking the deadly July 5 riots in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, news media recently unveiled efforts of an armed police anti-terrorism squadron from Xinjiang, which has participated in 31 anti-terrorism missions and killed 91 terrorists over the years.

According to a report by a newspaper affiliated with the People’s Armed Police Force (PAP) on July 9, the special-operations squadron of PAP unit in Xinjiang has participated in fights against terrorism 31 times and shot 91 rioters dead over the years. 

The news report did not specify when and where those anti-terrorism missions were conducted, but official reports show that domestic security situation in Xinjiang has greatly improved, after the deadly riots in 2009. 

The highly violent crimes involving beating, smashing, looting and arson in Urumqi on July 5, 2009, left at least 197 people dead and more than 1,700 injured. In total, 331 shops and 1,325 vehicles were smashed or burned. Extremist and terrorist forces at home and abroad jointly planned and carried out these brutal violent crimes.

Photo:People's Daily

To award their bravery in fighting against terrorists over the years, team members of the squadron have been given a series of medals, including the highest military award the Order of August 1 (Bayi).

The squadron was also given the title "Anti-Terrorist Sharp Knife Squadron" in early July this year for its outstanding performance in fighting terrorism. 

At a ceremony held by the Central Military Commission (CMC) in Beijing on July 5, President Xi Jinping, also chairman of the CMC, presented an honorary flag to representatives of the squadron.

Xi asked the entire armed forces to learn from the squadron, consolidate the political foundation of firmly obeying the Party's orders and following the Party's lead, develop a strong ability to defeat enemies, foster bravery, promote the revolutionary spirit, and fearlessly charge ahead despite any difficulties.

The report by the PAP force newspaper revealed that Wu Jiao, a member of the team, had once defeated six rioters by himself during an operation in 2014. A group of terrorists set up roadblocks, smashed and burned passing vehicles, hacked and killed innocent people in the city. Wu successfully shot six terrorists when he encountered them in a mission.

Since 2014, the PAP has assisted the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in taking out 1,588 violent terrorist gangs. They have managed to capture 12,995 terrorists, according to a white paper titled China's National Defense in the New Era in 2019. 

Global Times