Chinese Elite Anti-Terrorism Commando

Snow Leopard is PAP's anti-terrorist elite troop, their duties are internal securities like hostage rescues and hunting terrorists. Their training is different from PLA's special operation forces.

PLA SOF would have similar training and duties similar to other elite forces of the world, main tasks are always recon and act as advance troops rather than major fire fights. 

As for comparing with other elite forces, in the absence of PLA SOF real action documentaries/reports, I would not not do any ranking other than putting UK's SAS and SBS as the top elite special troop for their past actions, skills, training and the tough selection.


PLA's special opearion forces have different names as below:

Guangzhou Military Region Special Forces Unit - Established in 1988 as the PLA’s first special reconnaissance group, and was later expanded in 2000 to become the first PLA special operations unit to be capable of air-, sea-, and land-operations.

Chengdu Military Region Special Forces Unit – Nickname “Falcon”. Established in 1992, this unit is specialised in target locating and indicating, airborne insertion, sabotage and offensive strike, and emergency evacuation. The unit was also used by Chengdu MR to experiment with various new concept equipments and tactics, including the digitised army soldier system and high-mobility land weapon platforms.


Beijing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Established in the early 1990s, this unit is equipped with various “high-tech” equipment including unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle (UARV), individual explosion devices and handheld laser dazzling weapons.


Shenyang Military Region Special Forces Unit


Nanjing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Nickname “Flying Dragon”


Nanjing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Nickname “Oscar”


Lanzhou Military Region Special Forces Unit


Hong Kong Special Ops Company - Nickname "5 minute Response Unit" Macau Quick Reaction Platoon

Posted in: Chinese People’s Liberation Army