Coast guard launches law enforcement drill in preparation for Hainan's special customs operations

The China Coast Guard (CCG) launched a law enforcement drill on Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming island-wide special customs operations at Hainan Free Trade Port, which is set to begin on Thursday.

Led by the CCG's South China Sea Branch, the three-day exercise involves multiple maritime authorities. The CCG has deployed several task forces for the drill, which is designed to enhance joint response capabilities to counter maritime smuggling and illegal immigration.

The drill, which is taking place simultaneously across multiple sea areas around Hainan Island, focuses on a series of law enforcement exercises designed to test the coordination capabilities of the task forces.

These exercises include integrated air-sea reconnaissance and search missions, coordinated interceptions, rapid boarding and control operations, as well as joint maritime-land inspection and seizure operations.

"In accordance with unified deployment, we have conducted phased and zoned maritime patrols during this joint law enforcement drill. Simulating scenarios such as maritime smuggling and illegal immigration, we have carried out targeted exercises, such as maritime target situational awareness, detection and tracking of suspicious vessels, coordinated interception, and boarding for control. These exercises have effectively tested and enhanced our mission execution capabilities," said Zhuo Pinzhao, a coast guard officer.

Coast guard launches law enforcement drill in preparation for Hainan's special customs operations

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday presided over a State Council executive meeting that studied work on building a unified national market and reviewed and approved a plan for the development of a modern emergency response system during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Noting that building a unified national market is essential to advancing high-quality development, the meeting called for deepening institutional frameworks in areas such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, social credit and market exit mechanisms.

The meeting also urged efforts to advance high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure to facilitate smooth economic circulation and effectively reduce logistics costs across society.

Emergency management is critical to protecting people's lives and property, the meeting said. It called for accelerating the development of a modern emergency response system, deepening reform and innovation in emergency management, and improving coordinated response mechanisms.

Efforts should be made to strengthen risk prevention at the source, enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning, and accelerate a shift in governance toward proactive prevention, according to the meeting.

A draft revision of the Law on the People's Bank of China was also discussed and approved in principle at the meeting, which decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

Chinese premier chairs State Council executive meeting