PLA offers reward for missing soldier or gun

[Photo: Zhengzhou Evening News]

Border forces in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Southwest China's Yunnan Province are searching for a soldier that absconded with his weapon on April 15.

Chen Xin, 22, went missing during field training in He-kou Yao Autonomous County, which borders Vietnam. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) local border force has offered a reward of 100,000 yuan ($16,032) for anyone who finds Chen or the gun he took, said a notice posted on walls throughout Hekou county, a resident surnamed Pu confirmed with the Global Times on Tuesday.

A source close to the army said Chen disappeared in the middle of guard duty, according to the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post.

The gun has no bullets in it, the notice said, and another notice issued by the local army branch has attached contact numbers and a photograph of Chen in which he is wearing a blue T-shirt. It said that Chen may have changed from his camouflage uniform to casual clothes after leaving.

An employee from the border forces refused to answer questions from the Global Times.

An employee with Honghe prefecture government said army forces have examined cars at highway exits and police officers were dispatched to set up roadblocks in counties and cities of Honghe, but so far there is no evidence as to the soldier's whereabouts, the Post reported Tuesday.