People's Liberation Army Macau Garrison

Since December 20, 1999, the defense of Macau has been the responsibility of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), which stations between 500-600 troops in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, 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 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 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.

People's Liberation Army Macau 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
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Zhù Àomén Bùduì Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping zung1 gwok3 jan4 man4 gaai2 fong3 gwan1 zyu3 ou3 mun4*2 bou6 deoi6*2
Portuguese name
Portuguese	Guarnição em Macau do Exército de Libertação do Povo Chinês

Mission

According to the Law on Stationing Troops in the Macau Special Administrative Region (or Macau 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.

Current garrison

The Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, Mr Hu Jintao, inspects Chinese PLA Garrison Troops in Macao.

The Macau Garrison is under the command and control of the Central Military Commission, and its budget is administered by the central government in Beijing. A PLA major general heads the Macau Garrison.

Troops

• 1 motorised infantry
• 1 armored company

Equipment

Model	Type	Number	Dates	Builder	Details
ZFB91	6 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (Internal Security/Anti-Riot Vehicle)	10	1980s	Norinco  People's Republic of China	with 12.7mm machine gun
BJ2020S	utility vehicle	N/A	N/A	Beijing-Jeep  People's Republic of China	variant of Soviet UAZ469B
EQ2102	Troop/Cargo Carrier Truck	N/A	N/A	Dongfeng Motor Corporation  People's Republic of China
EQ2081/2100	Utility Truck	N/A	N/A	Dongfeng Motor Corporation  People's Republic of China	(formerly EQ240 and likely Chinese variants of the Zil 131) and other support vehicles
Type 88 Sniper Rifle	rifle	N/A	N/A	Norinco  People's Republic of China
QBZ-95	rifle	N/A	N/A	People's Republic of China

The garrison was temporarily stationed at the 11 storey Edificacao Long Cheng/Long Cheng Mansion. It is now stationed on Taipa Island. There are more troops at the barracks in Zhuhai.

See also

• Military of Macau under Portuguese rule
• People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison