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
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, while humanitarians continue to face obstructions in delivering aid to the people, Ramiz Alakbarov, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said at a meeting on the question of Palestine at the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
He said that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned over the escalating violence in West Bank and the situation of Palestinian detainees, urging Israel to abide by international law and reiterating his commitment to promoting a two-state solution to end the illegal occupation and achieve lasting peace.
Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, condemned Israel's settlement expansion and settler violence in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He said Israel should comply with international law, allow access for humanitarian aid and lift economic restrictions. He also urged Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement which took effect in this October.
"More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been injured or maimed. Thousands have been detained. An entire population has been displaced and starved. One figure captures the depth of this agony. During the final months of the Israeli onslaught, the number of babies dying on the very same day that they were born in Gaza was 75 percent higher than before this war on our people began. That is why no one welcomes the ceasefire more than the Palestinian people in Gaza. But Israel has yet to cease fire," said Mansour.
Also speaking at the meeting, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon insisted that Israel's goal remains disarmament of Hamas.
Ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile: UN official
