A Profile of the People's Lberation Army

TOM CHEANG

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), stationed in Macau for only five months, has already won a favorable image for having a low profile and being amicable, according to a survey.

The PLA deployment entered Macau with the aim of "doing the job of national defense." Can they really fulfill the wish of bringing peace to the city? What do people think of the army?

UMAC BRIDGES therefore, in March, interviewed a military expert, conducted a survey about the image of the PLA with 80 interviewees, including 50 students from the University of Macau (UM) and 30 citizens living near Edf. Long Cheng, the temporary PLA station in Avenida do Dr Rodrigo Rodigues.

Usually, the image of an army is serious and rigid. However, one-third of the interviewees worried that there might be corruption in the army.

Despite this worry, most of the interviewees still thought that the soldiers were qualified for their jobs and would obey the law.

The President of the International Military Association of Macau, Antony Wong, disclosed that the low profile image of the PLA was beneficial to both the army and the residents.

"Their low profile image helps to reduce the fear and doubt which some people have towards the PLA due to the June 4th Event when the armed PLA suppressed the demonstrating students," said Antony Wong, "this helps to create a positive and efficient image for the army."

Composed of around one thousand soldiers in the army, air force and navy, from various provinces of China, the PLA has a positive image in students’ mind.

Three-quarters of UM students from this survey said they did not mind having the PLA stationed in the enclave to represent China’s sovereignty over the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR).

"Actually I don’t really feel the PLA is around us," said Derek Kuok, a first-year student from UM, "because they just fulfill their duty quietly without disturbing our life I have a strong sense of security with the PLA here."

However, to some interviewees, they did not know anything about the PLA because of this low profile image.

"Except for being stationed at Edf. Long Cheng, I don’t think they have any practical function in Macau," said Catherine Iu, another UM student studying in English Communications.

To take a step further, Antony Wong mentioned that the PLA in Macau planned to build up a closer relationship with the residents.

"After moving to Taipa Island, they will arrange an open day for citizens, so that they can understand more about their facilities and daily operation."

Among the 30 residents living near the PLA station who were interviewed, over 70% said that there was no change to their daily life even with the PLA stationed next to their homes. Meanwhile, less than 20% thought there were more tourists visiting the district than before.

Mr Wong, a resident in the building opposite to the PLA station, felt strongly that Macau was a part of China.

"I can see the national flag of our country being raised everyday," Wong said.

"The soldiers are standing rigidly and guarding the city," stressed Antony Wong.

He also pointed out that the PLA was improving in transparency and in their relationship with the public. He believed that in ten years’ time, the open and friendly image of the PLA would catch up with those in the western world.

This increase in transparency is necessary as the survey showed the interviewees did not have much knowledge about the PLA. Most of the student respondents thought the soldiers had received just basic education, that is, junior to senior secondary education.

According to official statistics, most of the soldiers have a secondary education level. For officers, the majority of the army is above the secondary education level. Among them, 60% are university degree holders. Some of them even have a Master Degree.

When entering Macau, the PLA brought along with them different kinds of advanced weapons, armored-cars and munitions from China.

Besides training, the PLA also have entertainment. Thirty percent of UM students involved in this survey thought the soldiers mainly watch TV as their leisure activity, about one quarter of them thought the soldiers spend their leisure time doing exercise, 20% guessed the army can tour around the city during leisure time, and the remaining one quarter of students had no idea what entertainments the PLA usually have.

According to official records, there are rooms and facilities for sports, karaoke and even a small library. The soldiers can also form interest groups such as soccer teams or music groups during leisure time.

The PLA is the first army stationed in this small city with an area of 23.6km2 since the Carnation Revolution in Portugal in 1974. From that time on, the Portuguese government withdrew all Portuguese soldiers from the enclave.