ARTICLE: China Approves Law Governing Armed Police Force, By MICHAEL WINES, New York Times, August 27, 2009

China passes a new law clarifying when the paramilitary internal police force (sounds National Guardish or like the carabinieri in Italy) can be used. The biggest point: local authorities can't call it into action.

People were complaining that the local governments were reaching for them inappropriately, bolstering their power with excessive force.