Macao Garrison

The People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison[note 1] is a garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defense duties in the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) since the sovereignty of Macau was transferred to China in 1999.

Chinese People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison
中國人民解放軍駐澳門部隊
Guarnição em Macau do Exército de Libertação do Povo Chinês
Emblem of the PLA
FoundedApril 10, 1999 (within Guangzhou Military Region)
Size1,000
Part ofSouthern Theater Command
Garrison/HQMacau
Commanders
CommanderMaj. Gen. Xu Liangcai[1]
Political commissarMaj. Gen. Zhou Wugang[2]
Chinese People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese中國人民解放軍駐澳門部隊
Simplified Chinese中国人民解放军驻澳门部队
Literal meaningChina People Liberation Army stationing Àomén Troops
Portuguese name
PortugueseGuarnição em Macau do Exército de Libertação do Povo Chinês

The PLA stations between 500-600 troops in Macau, primarily as a symbolic presence to underscore Chinese sovereignty. The remainder of the 1,200-strong Macau garrison resides just across the Chinese border in Zhuhai.

Although the Macao 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 Edmund 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.

Mission

According to the Law on Stationing Troops in the Macau Special Administrative Region (or Macao Garrison Law, passed by the NPC Standing Committee on June 28, 1999), the mission of the PLA in Macau is to defend the special administrative region by "preventing and resisting aggression; safe-guarding the security of Macau; undertaking defence services; managing military facilities; and handling related foreign military affairs." The PLA can also be called upon by the chief executive to help maintain public order and assist with disaster relief efforts. The members of the garrison are mainly ground force troops.

2017 Typhoon Hato
PLA Macau Garrison troops cleaning Macau streets after Typhoon Hato.

At the request of Macau SAR Government, the PLA Macao Garrison was deployed to assist in disaster relief and cleaning up in the aftermath of Typhoon Hato in August 2017, the first time for domestic affairs in Macau history.[4] About 1,000 troops were called in to help remove debris and clear roads.[5]

Organization
People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison headquarters

The PLA Macao Garrison is under the command and control of the Central Military Commission and under the operational supervision of the Southern Theater Command, and its budget is administered by the central government in Beijing. A PLA major general heads the Macao Garrison.

Garrison Commanders
  • Maj. General Liu Yuejun 1999–2002
  • Maj. General Liu Lianhua 2002–2008
  • Maj. General Wang Yuren 2008–2010
  • Maj. General Zhu Qingsheng 2010–2014
  • Maj. General Wang Wen 2014–2018
  • Maj. General Liao Zhengrong 2018
  • Maj. General Xu Liangcai 2019–present
Political Commissars
  • Maj. General He Xianshu 1999–2001
  • Maj. General Liu Liangkai 2001–2003
  • Maj. General Yang Zhongmin 2003–2006
  • Maj. General Li Wenchao 2006–2007
  • Maj. General Zhao Cunsheng 2007–2008
  • Maj. General Xu Jinlin 2008–2013
  • Maj. General Ma Biqiang 2013–2014
  • Maj. General Zhang Zhimeng 2014–2017
  • Maj. General Zhou Wugang 2017–present

Troops

Equipment
ModelTypeNumberDatesBuilderDetails
ZFB916 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (Internal Security/Anti-Riot Vehicle)101980sNorinco  People's Republic of Chinawith 12.7mm machine gun
BJ2020Sutility vehicleN/AN/ABeijing-Jeep  People's Republic of Chinavariant of Soviet UAZ469B
EQ2102Troop/Cargo Carrier TruckN/AN/ADongfeng Motor Corporation  People's Republic of China
EQ2081/2100Utility TruckN/AN/ADongfeng Motor Corporation  People's Republic of China(formerly EQ240 and likely Chinese variants of the Zil 131) and other support vehicles
Type 88 Sniper RiflerifleN/AN/ANorinco  People's Republic of China
QBZ-95rifleN/AN/A People's Republic of China

Bases

The garrison was temporarily stationed at the 11 storey Edificação Long Cheng/Long Cheng Mansion. It is now stationed on Taipa located amongst the new casinos in Cotai Strip (Estrada da Baía de Nossa Sra. da Esperança across from Hotel Venetian and Galaxy Macau).

There are more troops at the barracks in Zhuhai (Zhengling).

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See also

Notes
  1. The English name of the garrison follows the English name of the city instead of the Portuguese name, therefore it should be "Macao".[3]

References
  1. "Commander of the People's Liberation Army in Macao: Xu Liangcai takes over Liao Zhengrong". bestchinanews. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. "Contribute to national development, ensuring Macao's prosperity". Government Information Bureau. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  3. "PLA Macao Garrison holds 15th open day". China Military. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  4. Yeung, Raymond; Carvelho, Raquel. "Up to 10 people feared trapped in flooded underground car parks after Typhoon Hato devastates Macau". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
  5. "PLA garrison's relief efforts widely praised after typhoon hits Macao". Global Times. August 27, 2017.
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