A armored infantry company from the Macao Garrison of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted a drill on Tuesday to improve soldiers’ combat readiness and operational capability. The Macao Garrison barracks is located in Taipa, a bustling area of the region. The soldiers of the armored infantry company also conducted training to improve combat skills, with training featuring rolling up tires, carrying artillery shells and rafts, and pushing armored vehicles.
The ZFB-91 is an internal security vehicle based on the WZ-523, which has a turret armed with a 35 mm grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm machine gun replacing the roof mounted 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the WZ-523, is in service with PLA units in Hong Kong and Macau. although it was destined for export and did not enter large scale service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The People’s Liberation Army Macao Garrison is the defence force stationed in Macau since December 20, 1999. The garrison was temporarily stationed at the 11 storey Edificação Long Cheng/Long Cheng Mansion. It is now stationed on Taipa Island located amongst the new casinos in Cotai Strip (Estrada da BaÃa de Nossa Sra. da Esperança across from Hotel Venetian and Galaxy Macau). The remainder of the 1,200-strong Macau garrison resides just across the Chinese border in Zhuhai.
Although the Basic Law states that the Macau SAR government may “when necessary” ask the central government to allow the garrison to assist in maintaining public order or disaster relief, Chief Executive Ho has said that, in keeping with the Basic Law the garrison will play no role in internal security. The garrison has maintained a low profile, with soldiers generally wearing civilian clothing when off base and not engaging in business activities.
