China launched a program to set up a police force for its civil
aviation sector, an aviation official said Tuesday.
Yang Yuanyuan, director of the General Administration of Civil
Aviation of China, said the move was designed to prevent and deal
with hijacking and other illegal activity threatening flight
safety.
Addressing a teleconference jointly held by the ministries of
Public Security, Personnel and Finance and the aviation
administration, Gao Hongfeng, vice-director of the administration,
said the aviation police is a new type of police force in China and
it is set up in accordance with laws and regulations.
China's aviation industry faces a complicated situation due to
rampant international terrorism in recent years, said Yang, adding
that the aviation police force is of great importance for airlines
and airports to fight against terrorism.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2003)