Officer Commended for Saving Lives During Last Year's Summer FloodsShao Rongyan, an officer with the China's Armed Police Force, was commended Thursday for sacrificing himself to save the lives of his comrades while fighting against last summer's floods.Shao was an officer with the Jiangmen branch of the Guangdong Armed Police Corps. He received third-grade military awards three times and 12 awards during his 20 years of police service. An outstanding member of the Chinese Communist Party, Shao had led his men in many fights against natural disasters. During a battle against floods in southern China's Guangdong Province on August 23, 1999, six officers and soldiers of the Armed Police Force fell into raging waters. Shao jumped into the water to save his drowning comrades, but he was devoured by the raging waters while attempting to rescue a third man. At a ceremony held here today, Cui Zhanfu, deputy secretary-general of the State Council, read aloud a posthumous citation from the State Council and the Central Military Commission. Shao's relatives received a medal and certificate from Tang Tianbiao, deputy director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The rank and file of the Armed Police Force were urged to follow Shao's example in safeguarding the security and lives of the Chinese people. |
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