Brigade deputy chief says branch represents military's 'steel of steel'

The marine corps of the People's Liberation Army has been given a vote of confidence in its combat capability after taking part in exchanges with foreign counterparts.

Marines of a brigade of the PLA navy's South China Sea fleet participate in an exercise in which they stopped, boarded and inspected a merchant ship suspected of violating the law, and detained the suspects involved on Thursday. The two marines were on a boat that was sent near the ship. Bai Ruixue / Xinhua

"The marine corps represents the essence of our armed forces, and I call our marines the 'steel of steel'," Wang Wenxin, deputy chief of a PLA marine corps brigade, told China Daily.

Wang was speaking during an ongoing training mission for the PLA navy's South Sea Fleet.

On March 19, the fleet began a major patrol-training mission in the South China Sea and western Pacific Ocean.

"Though my brigade has not been tested in actual combat, everyone can see our strength after watching our training. Every time foreign navies visit the fleet's bases, they will ask the fleet to arrange meetings or exercises with our marines," Wang said.

Each year, commandos from Wang's brigade and other marine corps units go overseas to attend training courses and take part in skills competitions, the 43-year-old navy captain said.

General James Conway, 34th commandant of the United States marine corps from 2006 to 2010, said during a visit to a PLA marine corps base in 2008 that Chinese marines live up to their reputation, and he commended them as excellent amphibious fighters.

Wang said the PLA marine corps has also taken part in a joint exercise with the Royal Thai navy since 2010.

In May, nearly 500 marines from the Royal Thai navy and the South Sea Fleet took part in the second drill in Guangdong province, which covered a host of activities including small-unit tactical training, field survival and urban combat.

Wang said he was quite impressed by the "sense of honor and warrior spirit" of the Thai marines.