|
CHINA> National
![]() |
|
Joint military exercise targets spread of terrorism
By Zhang Xin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-20 06:54 The Sino-Russia joint military exercise codenamed Peace "Mission 2009" will help guard the countries against terrorists, particularly after the July 5 Xinjiang riot.
Major General Wang Haiyun, a former military attache to Russia and an expert in international strategy, said in Beijing that as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and Russia's joint drill will help both countries protect core security interests against terrorists, separatists and extremists. China just experienced the July 5 riot in Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region which killed at least 197 people and injured more than 1,700. Wang said Russia, a large country with many ethnic groups and complex political situations, is facing similar challenges.
"Russia and China should also cooperate more vigorously to defend themselves and prevent terrorism from spreading from Afghanistan to Central Asia." He further said the Peace Mission joint drill is held every two years "to practice counter-terrorist techniques, promote mutual understanding and trust, and to learn from each other".
The drill will help the countries improve cooperation and coordination and to respond more quickly and efficiently, he said, noting the purpose of the drill is not to instigate war but to deter war from happening. Russia and China have a sound foundation of cooperation in the SCO, but the joint exercise doesn't necessarily mean China and Russia are military allies, he stressed. "SCO applies the '3 no' principle: no alliance, no confrontation and not against a third party. In the new era of cooperation rather than confrontation, alliances are not helpful for peaceful development", said Wang, refuting suspicion of Russia and China's military alignment by citing the Charter of the SCO. He said China attached great importance to anti-terrorism and the equipment, special training and skills to combat terrorism have been improving in the People's Liberation Army at China. About 1,300 army and air force personnel from each side will participate in Peace Mission 2009. Generals from the two armed forces will hold strategic talks in Russia's Khabarovsk on Wednesday, kicking off the five-day anti-terrorism drill in Russia's Far East area and northeast China's Shenyang Military Command. Russia will also send an airborne assault unit, the Ministry of Defence said. |
亳州市| 永昌县| 伊金霍洛旗| 元谋县| 水富县| 普安县| 宜宾县| 光山县| 牡丹江市| 大石桥市| 昌江| 小金县| 阳春市| 桐庐县| 和平区| 革吉县| 汝南县| 喀喇沁旗| 鲁甸县| 宿州市| 基隆市| 武胜县| 西乌珠穆沁旗| 通化市| 荥经县| 祁门县| 剑河县| 五大连池市| 乌鲁木齐县| 湘乡市| 迁安市| 洛宁县| 皋兰县| 绍兴县| 易门县| 怀仁县| 浠水县| 裕民县| 淳安县| 新津县| 安西县|