As a series of deadliest natural calamities struck the world successively in recent years, the armed forces, as a vital militarized rescue force, play a pivotal role in dealing with various unexpected crises. The itch to learn more about this drives the reporters to have an exclusive interview with military experts like Luo Yuan, deputy director of the World Military Research Department of the Academy of Military Sciences, and research fellows Li Xiaodong and Yu Xiaopeng from the same department on the theme of "militarized rescue in face of major natural disasters".

　　Go all out and engage in three-dimensional and full-scale emergency rescue

　　The experts are of the view that the toughest challenge in the rescue and relief operation in the aftermath of major calamities usually does not come from material supply, but from meeting the demands for rapid, effective and accurate fulfillment of various complicated tasks. The unexpected, pressing and serious nature of the fatal disasters calls for setting in motion and continuous execution of all the rescue and relief plans, task assignment, and damage evaluation.

　　When major calamity strikes, the troops are not only required to take on the comprehensive emergency support tasks in a rescue and relief operation, but also to get involved in concrete and multiple rescue missions, such as personnel evacuation, medical first aid, safeguarding security, and rebuilding of the disaster-hit areas. For that reason, the all-out effort in carrying out the militarized three-dimensional rescue and relief becomes an important guarantee to realize the comprehensive goal.

　　Make quick response and carry out highly effective emergency scheme

　　In quick response lies the basic requirement in performing rescue and relief in major disasters, and likewise a key link in the successful fulfillment of militarized rescue operations in any country.

　　Experts believe that correct decision making and timely deployment of sufficient troops in the early and various other stages can not only effectively water down and rein in various adverse impacts caused by natural or man-made calamities, but can also more often than not ward off various possible harms and crises that might pop up afterward.

　　Improve facilities and ensure smooth operation of information network

　　Accurate and reliable information is a crucial guarantee for effectively implementing disaster prevention and handling crisis. Therefore, the information work is absolutely indispensable to militarized rescue and relief and, for that reason, has a bearing on the overall situation.

　　Experts hold the view that the collection of disaster information should focus on those aspects that may generate vital impact on such natural and social factors as livelihood, culture, political life, religion and the economy of the residents in the operation areas, and require for broad understanding in terms of psychology and mentality.

　　Make overall plan and decision, and form a multiple rescue pattern

　　The implementation of international joint military rescue operation is very common in the modern world. In a number of fatal natural disasters hit the world in recent years, the armed forces of many countries participated into rescue and relief operation. For example, the rescue and relief operation for the Indian Ocean Tsunami was recognized as the largest "multinational troops" joint operation in the history, in which not only major West countries such as the U.S., UK and France were involved, but also Japan and some developing countries lent their hands.

　　Take preventive measures and complete disaster prevention rules and regulations

　　Completed rules and regulations for disaster prevention and relief are vital guarantees for effectively carrying out militarized rescue operations. At present, many systematic and professional national laws and regulations not only normalized the contents of the main part of the authority and the procedure to announce the state of emergency, but also provided important guarantee for the effective implementation of prevention work and legal basis to the effective implementation of emergency mobilization.

　　In addition, some countries also have stepped up the training of military rescue, and are constantly testing the national capability of emergency mobilization. For example, Japan stipulates that every September 1 is the "Disaster Prevention Day" in which the Prime Minister and all the ministers will participate in the "comprehensive disaster prevention drill" together with all the Japanese citizens.

　　By Bie Tuolun and Bao Guojun

　　(May 26, PLA Daily)                                    Editor: Dong Zhaohui