The Clouded Leopard Commando Unit in Kunming, Yunnan, demonstrates their commitment to public safety.

In Kunming, the capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province, a criminal took two hostages in a hotel. During negotiations, the criminal unexpectedly fired shots. Upon hearing the gunfire, two police officers swiftly entered the room and successfully eliminated the threat in a close-quarters gunfight, ensuring the safe rescue of the hostages.

This remarkable hostage rescue wasn't a scene from a movie but a real-life operation conducted by the Clouded Leopard Commando Unit, a counterterrorism force within the special police unit of the Kunming Municipal Public Security Bureau. The unit is named after the agile and powerful clouded leopards native to Yunnan.

On normal days, we go about our training and friendly interactions like any group of young people, but when faced with real danger, every single one of us is ready to risk our lives without hesitation.

Li Ming (pseudonym), 26, a member of the Clouded Leopard Commando Unit

"The commandos are like legends to me," said Li Ming (pseudonym), a 26-year-old member of the unit.

Inspired by the unit's reputation during his university years, Li dreamed of joining it. After graduating from the People's Public Security University of China in Beijing in 2021, he was recruited by the special police unit in Kunming.

By 2023, due to his exceptional performance, Li achieved his ambition of becoming a Clouded Leopard commando. His duties expanded to handling more dangerous situations, including encounters with armed criminals and managing urgent and complex tasks like rescues and counterterrorism operations.

The path to becoming a seasoned commando involves enduring eight hours of demanding daily training over a period of three to five years. Li must meet more than 20 strict requirements covering physical fitness, weapon skills, and tactical expertise.

Additionally, specialized training in areas like tactical driving, diving, and sniping is tailored to each recruit to maximize their individual strengths.

Once a leisure activity for Li, physical fitness has now become a daily essential obligation and a personal challenge. Despite occasional temptations to slack off, he finds motivation in his colleagues' commitment to training. "If I don't make progress each day, I feel like I'm wasting valuable time," he said.

In addition to their daily training regimen, teamwork also plays a crucial role in the curriculum of these "clouded leopards."

A key exercise in Li's training routine involves "trust target shooting", where a sniper aims at an apple held by a teammate. According to Li, the sniper's precision must be exceptional, and the teammate holding the target must have complete faith in the sniper's skill and accuracy to prevent any mishaps.

"This exercise aims to build trust among team members, ensuring that you can confidently depend on your teammates, especially in challenging situations," Li explained.

Moreover, during shooting practice, commandos must refine skills to counter interference. While practicing aiming and firing, intentional noises like shouting, music, and drumming are created nearby. This prepares snipers to remain composed and focused in complex environments, enabling them to effectively hit their targets despite distractions.

Because of his outstanding performance, Li became the youngest sniper on the team within a year of joining the unit, earning the opportunity to train with a sniper rifle.

"In dangerous and urgent missions, it's the muscle memory from daily training that guarantees flawless task execution, ensuring zero mistakes," he said, dispelling the idea that a commando's routine is merely monotonous repetition.

It is through this rigorous training that the unit, founded 22 years ago, has achieved numerous operations without a single error.

The intense training and high standards extend equally to both men and women. Li highlights the significant contribution of female members within the team, expressing deep admiration for their dedication.

"Each one of them is incredibly powerful. They face more challenges and put in tremendous effort," he said.

According to Li, female members actively participate in missions, particularly in handling high-risk individuals like female suspects or terrorists.

Within the unit, there is an honor room that houses a bullet-riddled bulletproof vest, serving as a reminder for Li and his comrades of the risks they face and their commitment to their duties.

"On normal days, we go about our training and friendly interactions like any group of young people, but when faced with real danger, every single one of us is ready to risk our lives without hesitation," Li said.

The training makes it difficult for these commandos to balance their rigorous routines with limited family time. Li mentioned that some senior members are parents, but due to the secluded nature of their training sessions or mission obligations, they can be separated from their families for months at a time, missing significant moments in their children's lives.

"In this job, you must deal with being alone. While others may have exciting lives, we must train hard in the hot sun and stay focused on our main goal," said Li.

He pointed out that social security has significantly improved in recent years thanks to the collaborative efforts of various sectors in Kunming, leading to a decrease in serious violent incidents.

As a result, the Clouded Leopard Commando Unit members are now deployed less frequently on missions. However, they remain dedicated to daily training, always prepared to confront any threats to national security, social stability, and public safety.

"This is how people can feel safe, knowing they can depend on us in times of danger," Li affirmed.

While Li sometimes feels his skills are not fully utilized, he recognizes that the rarity of violent incidents signifies societal progress and greater security for the public.

"In our line of work, we deal with tough criminals and distressing situations, but the Clouded Leopard commandos remain resolute because our commitment to justice is unwavering," he said.

Contact the writers at mengwenjie@i21st.cn