The People's Liberation Army held a logistic drill here Tuesday to test the emergency response capability of its transport, oil supply and medical services platoons.

The drill, dubbed "On Time 2007," was conducted by the Joint Logistics Department of the Beijing Military Area Command.

Nearly 3,000 soldiers and officers from more than 20 logistic manoeuvre platoons participated. In addition, more than 600 of latest the large-scale logistic facilities were tested.

A total of 70 field vehicles equipped with satellite positioning systems drove on a road as if they were under enemy air attack.

When the airport oil depot was "bombed," the oil supply platoon immediately constructed a temporary depot and pipelines for refueling helicopters.

Some soldiers were also "poisoned" by chemicals. In response, the medical aid platoon traveling in chemical protective vehicles arrived at the spot and provided first aid to the wounded and sanitized and disinfected the area.

Major General Dong Mingxiang, head of the the Joint Logistics Department of the Beijing Military Area Command, said the logistic troops of the Beijing Military Area displayed that they had the capability of providing logistic supplies to troops inside and out the military area.

"They can quickly respond to emergencies in both peacetime and wartime, according to the evaluation result," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2007)