Internal Security

PLA and People's Armed Police Officers and Soldiers Fight with Full Force on the Front Lines of Flood Prevention and Disaster Relief

解放军和武警部队官兵全力奋战防汛救灾一线

PLA Daily (解放军报) 9 July 2026

Summary

On July 9, MND spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi announced that PLA and People's Armed Police forces had deployed over 2,400 personnel, 70-plus watercraft, and 260-plus vehicles and engineering equipment, alongside more than 5,500 militia members, across Guangxi, Hubei, and Gansu in response to flooding, dam breaches, and landslides. This is a standard MND press-conference readiness announcement; its value is as a data point in tracking the scale and geographic distribution of military disaster-relief mobilization, and it documents the militia's continued role as a force multiplier in domestic emergency response rather than indicating any change in PLA posture or civil-military policy.

Translation

On the afternoon of July 9, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related matters.

Reporter: According to reports, PLA and People's Armed Police officers and soldiers, as well as militia members, have recently been conducting emergency rescue operations with full force in Guangxi, Hubei, Gansu, and other areas. Please provide further details on the situation.

Chen Xi: In recent days, Guangxi, Hubei, Gansu, and other areas have experienced successive disasters including reservoir dam breaches and landslides caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds. Chairman Xi issued important instructions on flood prevention and disaster relief work, and military units at all levels responded to the order and immediately threw themselves into emergency rescue and disaster relief operations. As of now, the PLA and People's Armed Police have deployed more than 2,400 personnel, more than 70 watercraft, more than 260 vehicles and engineering equipment, and have organized more than 5,500 militia members to assist local authorities in carrying out tasks including evacuating civilians, reinforcing embankments and dikes, transporting supplies, and clearing silt and draining floodwaters. The people come first; life comes first (人民至上，生命至上). All officers and soldiers of the assigned units are fighting on the front lines of flood prevention and disaster relief, doing everything in their power amid wind and rain to safeguard the lives and property of the people.

Original Chinese

7月9日下午，国防部新闻发言人陈曦大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：据报道，解放军和武警部队官兵、民兵近期在广西、湖北、甘肃等地全力开展抢险救援工作。请进一步介绍有关情况。陈曦：近日，广西、湖北、甘肃等地因降雨大风天气，接连发生水库溃坝、山体滑坡等灾情。习主席对防汛救灾工作作出重要指示，军队各级闻令而动，迅即投入抢险救灾工作。截至目前，解放军和武警部队共出动2400余人、舟艇70余艘、车辆和工程器械260余台，组织民兵5500余人，协助地方担负转移群众、加固堤坝、转运物资和清淤排涝等任务。人民至上，生命至上。任务部队全体官兵正奋战在防汛救灾一线，在风雨中全力守护人民群众生命财产安全。