The Setback at the Airport
As Beijing was then an epidemic area of SARS and doctors were the high-risk population that often contacted the SARS patients directly, the entry visas of various countries were stricter than normal times. Particularly approved by the Algerian Government, the CISAR got the special visa to enter Algeria. But for caution’s sake, and to ensure the SARS disease would not be brought into Algeria, the Chinese Government required that all the CISAR members should, besides accepting routine security checks, make rigid health condition declaration and receive numerous body temperature measurements.
Dr. Peng Bibo got ill. It was unknown whether it was because of the hot whether or because he was too tired after getting ready the vaccines. This man, who was in very good health at ordinary times, was found to have a body temperature of over 37℃ on the screen of the electronic body temperature monitor when he received the physical examination. Once, twice, three times, the common red numbers became so fearsome, and sweat was pearling over his forehead.
“Low fever!” In the SARS period, anybody associated with these words would keep all others around far away from him. The task-specific Boeing 767 was standing by on the apron, and the huge roars of the engines had sounded up. Everybody present was looking at Peng Bibo, anxiously but solicitously.
When the external environment changes suddenly, the physical and psychological state of the human body will be in a stress state and the secretion of hormones will increase or decrease correspondingly, and the body temperature may fluctuate thereupon. Injected with active vaccines such as cholera vaccine, encephalitis vaccine or hepatitis B vaccine, the human cells will accept or refuse the active ingredients in the vaccines. And for different personal physiques, symptoms of body temperature fluctuation or nausea may arise within 48 hours.
Wang Faqiang, president of the PAPF General Hospital who was seeing them off, carefully inquired about and verified Peng’s body temperature checks, his working situation and his routine over the week, and combined with his clinical experience in treating SARS, he judged that Peng Bibo was very unlikely to have been infected with SARS. “Sit quietly and breathe deeply.” Peng Bibo sat in a corner alone, trying hard to calm down the surging emotions and thoughts. After he became calm, he received a test again and his body temperature recovered back to normal. Then the special plane for relief operations flew away in the eyesight of the people present.
Preface
Since the start of the 21st century, along with the rise of China’s overall national and military strength, China’s defense policies, military strategy and military development have increasingly become a hot spot of the world’s attention, and many books have been published overseas about the Chinese armed forces. Unfortunately, as some of the authors lack accurate first-hand information, some of their publications have been somewhat debatable.
What kind of a military is the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)? In what developmental stage are the various branches of the Chinese armed forces? To what level have China’s military armaments been developed? All these questions have aroused high attention from the international community and heated discussion among some overseas and domestic media. For this reason, we believe that writing a series of books to give a vivid and accurate introduction to the Chinese military, for both domestic and foreign readers, would be of tremendous significance.
There are three books in the first series on PLA China, namely The Chinese People’s Liberation Army, The PLA Navy, and The PLA Air Force； the three in the second series include The PLA Army Aviation Corps, The PLA Marines and The PLAAF Airborne Troops and the third series contains four volumes: The Chinese Navy’s Maritime Escort Operations, Chinese Peacekeepers Overseas, The Chinese Army in International Exchanges, as well as The Chinese Army in Humanitarian Relief. The length of each book ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 Chinese characters, with hundreds of valuable pictures. The series attempts to focus on the Chinese armed forces’ history, current situation and future development in the context of its growth through the use of many interesting examples and details, to show the overall face of the People’s Liberation Army from multiple angles.
Throughout the process of planning and writing the series, we invited the participation of experts from relevant PLA functional departments, military academies, and research institutions for the purpose to ensure its authority and accuracy. This series has also had strong support and guidance from the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense. We believe that the active participation of the military personnel has made the series much more profound.
Last but not least, any kind comment, criticism or advice from you on this Series is welcome. Once received, they will be deeply appreciated and highly valued, and will be taken into grave consideration in the subsequent perfection of this Series of publications.
The Editors
May 2015
