China is set to establish a marine security force comprising of more than 1,000 guards which will provide protection for passenger and cargo ships traveling between the Lancang and Mekong Rivers.
This move was made following the October 5 tragedy in which 13 Chinese sailors were killed during an attack of two cargo ships on a section of the Mekong River near the Golden Triangle area.
According to a report in the Beijing Times, the new force will be garrisoned in key areas and exercise regular patrols of the waters.
In late October, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand agreed to establish a cooperative mechanism in order to conduct joint patrols along the Mekong River so that navigation could resume before December.
He Xilun, the owner of "Yu Xing 8", one of the cargo ships attacked on October 5, told the Beijing Times that the recruitment process for the captain and crew of the marine security force began in Yunnan Province.
