The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison held a joint military exercise in Castle Peak in TuenMun on Saturday, the first of its kind since 1997 that local residents are invited to observe.
As the exercise was held just after China passed the "National Security Law", some Hong Kong media speculated that the exercise was to deter "Hong Kong Independence Movement ". However, some Hong Kong analysts and citizens believe that the "Hong Kong Independence " is just a movement advocated by few people. They have no real strength and the PLA doesn't have to worry about it.
At the Tsing Shan shooting range in the New Territories, approximately 1,000 soldiers participated in the exercise. A variety of combat and anti-terrorist helicopters, amphibious wheeled armored combat vehicles, mortars, anti-tank rocket launchers and other elite weapons had their debut at the exercise.
Ma Dingsheng, a military commentator who observed the exercise on the site, said that highlights of the exercise are joint sea and air operations as well as the combination of a variety of weapons and infantry. The exercise shows the PLA Hong Kong Garrison's mechanized and information-based combat capability, he added.
This is the first time in 18 years that the PLA Hong Kong Garrison open a joint military exercise to the public. The Garrison Spokesman said the exercise was part of the joint summer military exercises and "July 1" open-day activities.
The exercise caused great repercussions in Hong Kong. As for the saying of deterring the "Hong Kong Independence" , Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairwoman of the New People's Party and former Hong Kong security chief, said that the exercise is a routine one and has nothing to do with the "National Security Law" or "Hong Kong Independence Movement".
She said that "Hong Kong Independence" has no real strength and there is no need for the PLA to suppress it and the exercises is not intended to give anyone shock and awe. "I don't think we need to read too much into the exercise. I think the garrison has a duty to assure us that they are well-prepared and ready to defend Hong Kong if there is any threat to our security " she said.
Chan Wing-kee, member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Standing Committee, said the PLA Hong Kong Garrison wants Hong Kong people to know that if foreign aggression such as the infiltration of terrorists to sabotage Hong Kong happens, the PLA is capable of protecting HK citizens. He urged the public not to speculate and render the exercise and added that "Hong Kong Independence" is just a claim by very few people.
Military Commentator Ma Dingsheng said that although Hong Kong is a metropolis and the possibility of having a large-scale war is almost zero, he believes that the exercise is to get prepared for danger in time of peace.
He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is part of the People's Republic of China, and the "National Security Law" will not be implemented in Hong Kong in the foreseeable future. Thus, we should not confuse this exercise with the "National Security Law".
He stressed that although the PLA Hong Kong Garrison is small in scale, it is a joint force under the management of the Central Military Commission. The first public military exercise suggests that the PLA is gradually becoming transparent and it is entering the vision of the world.
Tsang Yok-sing, President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, said on July 5 that he does not feel the PLA's inviting of media to shoot the exercise aims to deter Hong Kong people, "There's no need to do that," he said.
Cheng Yiu-tong, member of the Executive Council and Honorary President of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said that PLA Hong Kong Garrison intends to arrange more exercises open to the public in the future.
