Chinese authorities have stepped up controls on security, traffic and pollution in capital Beijing two weeks before a massive military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the allied victory in World War Two. Measures which commenced this week include:
1. Air control
The selling, buying and mailing of all kinds of civilian flying objects were banned in Beijing from August 1 to August 21, according to the website of state-owned China News Service (CNS). Helicopters, gliders, hot air balloons, drones and others will be banned from airspace above the capital between August 22 and September 4.
The Beijing Capital International Airport and Nanyuan Airport will be closed from 9:30am to 12:30pm on the day of the parade on September 3 while strict air traffic control will be in place for the rest of the day, the news agency said.
2. Radio control
Restrictions on radio will be implemented in some areas in the capital including Tiananmen, reported Beijing Youth Daily. Radio stations, radio transmitters and remote control equipment will be restricted or banned while certain radio frequencies will be blocked, the newspaper said.
3. Civilian security guards
The Beijing government has mobilised residents to join its massive security surveillance campaign, according to Xinhua news agency. Civilian guards wearing red armbands will patrol streets, shops, markets, malls and other public places starting from Thursday, August 20, Xinhua said.
4. “Military parade blue”
Beijing aims to “reduce air pollution by 40 percent” ahead of the parade to ensure the sky is blue for the parade and other commemorative activities, CNS said. Industrial facilities which discharge air pollutants as well as construction sites in Beijing will be temporarily closed from August 20 to September 4. Similar measures will be implemented in six provinces surrounding the capital.
5. Beautifying streets
Chang’an Street, Beijing’s main thoroughfare is “undergoing a plastic surgery”, CNS said. Flowerbeds, observation decks and a miniature of the Great Wall were built.
6. Traffic control
Traffic control based on licence plate numbers will be implemented from August 20 to September 3. This means cars with licence plates ending with an odd number will only be allowed on the roads on dates ending with an odd number, and vice versa.
7. Postal control
Senders and receivers of all mail will have to register their identities with the post office or delivery company between August 20 and September 5, according to a joint notice by China Post, the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of State Security.
