The spin on reports this week that China is beefing up its internal security apparatus is to counter the increasing threat of terrorism. Yet, by careful reading of announcements by Chinese officials, discontent and social unrest is apparently growing across the country. Additionally, the regime is anticipating unprecedented exposure and perhaps even radicalization of groups vying for attention and greater political autonomy under the sharp glare of international media exposure, which will accompany its hosting of the Olympic Games in 2008 (see logo).

Although Minister of Public Security and Chinese Politburo member Zhou Yongkang accentuated the positive in an official statement carried by Xinhua, the national news agency, “The new squads are aimed at improving the ability of the police to handle terrorist crimes, riots and other emergencies,” it is difficult to imagine improved performance over crowd control and the maintenance of civil order when a third security force is inserted between People’s Armed Police and the Public Security Bureau. Counterpart forces in the west can easily warn about the problems of interoperable communications and equipment as well as resolution of protocol issues among legacy departments prior to the creation of any new security apparatus.