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China flexes military muscle in
anti-terror exercises
BEIJING (AFP) - China vowed to stamp out separatism
and extremism Thursday as it flexed its military
muscle in its largest ever joint anti-terrorism
operations.
Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
that groups China and five former Soviet republics in
Central Asia began joint military exercises in
Kazakhstan Wednesday aimed at averting terrorist
strikes from land and air.
The drill is also seen as China's bid to
counterbalance the growing US military presence in the
strategic and resource-rich Central Asia region.
Lieutenant General Li Qianyuan, head of the Chinese
military delegation and Commander of the Lanzhou
Military Command, said the show of strength would help
guarantee security and stability in the region.
"The military exercise... showed that the SCO member
states take the same stand and hold the same
determination to fight terrorism, separatism and
extremism," Li was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news
agency.
"It is an important step for the SCO states to step up
military cooperation and mutual trust among their
armed forces, and boost regional cooperation against
terrorism.
"The Chinese government stands firmly against
terrorism of all kinds, calls for closer international
cooperation and removing the roots of terrorism."
During the first stage of "Cooperation 2003", more
than 1,000 soldiers from Russia, Kyrgyzstan and
Kazakhstan launched a mock battle to rescue air
passengers held by a gang of international terrorists.
In the second stage on August 11-12, Chinese forces
will practise hostage-release techniques and the
destruction of a terrorist base in its Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region.
The Shanghai group comprises Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and China and was
formed in 2001 in an effort to overcome lingering
suspicions between Beijing and its ex-Soviet
neighbours.
The drills are the first of their kind within the
framework of the SCO, and the first time the PLA has
taken part in such a large scale joint anti-terror
exercise, China's Ministry of National Defense said.
"The exercise will promote understanding, friendship,
cooperation and development between the PLA and
military forces of other member countries," said a
ministry official, Xinhua reported.
Cash-strapped Tajikistan has an observation role in
the current round of exercises but there was no
mention of Uzbekistan, which maintains frosty
relations with its neighbours.
A statement by the Kazhak military Wednesday said the
Shanghai group was creating an anti-terrorism
headquarters in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, which also
hosts US-led forces engaged in stabilisation efforts
in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and a Russian
airbase used by another grouping of ex-Soviet states.
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