New PLA video depicts soldiers quelling city riots

New PLA video depicts soldiers quelling city riots

This vehicle in the video looks somewhat like a Hong Kong taxi.

Maggie Ho reports

The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army has released a video to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the PLA's founding, with soldiers shown carrying out an "anti-riot" drill, complete with warnings in Cantonese and scenes reminiscent of Hong Kong.



A soldier carrying a machine gun shouts in Cantonese through a loudhailer that “all consequences are at your own risk”.



The footage then cuts to advancing soldiers armed with shields, with a red warning flag that says “Warning. Stop charging or we use force”. The flag looks very much like the type used by the Hong Kong police.



In the three-minute video, a battered vehicle that resembles a Hong Kong taxi, is seen in a simulated street combat scene.



Various kinds of weapons and military vehicles and vessels are displayed, and targets, including a helicopter and a car, are shot at or blown up.



Towards the end of the video, there is interview footage of civilians praising the army, with a man saying in Cantonese: “The PLA and Hong Kong people are integrated”, and a woman who says the soldiers are “handsome”.



A number of children also reveal their delight at seeing the troops, with one saying "they're neat", and another proclaiming "they're strong", although the PLA's English subtitles strangely translate the latter into "what a bully".



Since the video was released on Wednesday night, it has attracted thousands of comments online.



One says “Hong Kong belongs to China, we don’t allow any interference, and we don’t allow rioters to have their way”.



There is a message calling for the PLA to use force “to punish pro-independence rioters”, while another comment expresses a hope for peace in China and harmony in Hong Kong.