Beijing increases security with nighttime People's Armed Police patrols

Reports indicate a significant increase in security presence within Beijing's second ring road. Residents have observed People's Armed Police (PAP) conducting nighttime patrols between midnight and 6:00 AM, equipped with military-grade assault rifles. Unlike standard public security patrols, these PAP units operate under the direct command of the Central Military Commission.

Security measures have expanded to include stricter pedestrian controls near sensitive areas like Zhongnanhai, where ID verification is now required at specific checkpoints. Additionally, physical barriers, including barbed wire fences and surveillance cameras, have been installed at the administrative boundary between Beijing's Tongzhou District and Hebei Province's Xianghe County, complicating local commuting and movement.

Observers note that the timing of these heightened security measures coincides with periods of high-level leadership travel. While local authorities have attributed increased patrols to maintaining public order, the scale of the deployment and the use of military-style fortifications suggest a heightened state of internal defense and social monitoring.