International   

Second phase of military drill ends

China, Russia aim at improving the capabilities of the two armies

QINGDAO (CHINA): The second phase of the Sino-Russian joint military exercise ended on Monday afternoon, to be followed by combat manoeuvre starting from Tuesday, said a Chinese general here on Monday.

Ge Zhenfeng, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, made the announcement in east China's Qingdao city.

The three-day third phase exercise will cover three military courses, including offshore blockade, amphibious landing and forcible separation.

Unprecedented event

The ``Peace Mission 2005'' joint military exercise, an unprecedented event involving 10,000 servicemen from China and Russia, was launched in the Russian port city of Vladivostok on August 18 and moved to the Chinese soil the day after.

On Monday morning, a group of 20 Chinese journalists visited a large anti-submarine warship, ``Marshal Shaposhnikov'', of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which has anchored at Qingdao to participate in the joint military manoeuvre.

Built in 1986, ``Marshal Shaposhnikov'' boasts capabilities of attacking submarines and fighting air targets in short range, according to officers of the warship.

The reporters learned that the Russian officers and sailors are in high spirits and they are satisfied with logistic supplies by the Chinese side.

Weather in east China's Shandong peninsula was a little too hot for 25-year-old Andrey Anfalov, a sergeant first class of Russian airborne troops, who was taking part in the exercises. ``It took us several days to acclimatise ourselves to the weather and environment here,'' said Anfalov, wearing green battle fatigues and blue beret.

``The joint military exercise is helpful in improving our combat capability. Each soldier of the Russian airborne troops attaches great importance to the drill,'' said Anfalov, whose troops were stationed in Weifang in Shandong peninsula.

The Russian troops, who arrived in Shandong peninsula on August 19, include officers and soldiers from paratroops, marine corps, air force and navy.

Vitali Repin, a company commander of the paratroops, said: ``Chinese airborne forces are very professional. The troops from both countries cooperated very well.'' Though satisfied with the living conditions in China, Repin was not accustomed to Chinese food. ``Fortunately, we have Russian cooks with us,'' he said.

The joint drill is aimed at improving the capabilities of the two armies in dealing with crises and organising coordinated action in the backdrop of the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

South Korea-U.S. exercise

South Korea and the United States kicked off a joint military exercise on Monday as schedule despite a protest from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The annual training, dubbed the Ulchi Focus Lens, draws about 10,000 American troops and an undisclosed number of South Korean troops during its 12-day session, Kim Yong-kyu, a spokesman at the U.S.

Forces Korea (USFK)'s command in Seoul, was quoted by South Korean major news agency Yonhap as saying. The joint exercise has aroused strong criticism from the DPRK. — Xinhua

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Second phase of military drill ends
Anura is new Foreign Minister
Fate of Constitution hangs in the balance
Kurdish rebels declare ceasefire
Brazil officials in Britain to probe youth's killing
Atop a peak at age 12
Settler era in Gaza ends
Book vending machines
Russia offers latest MiG fighter jet

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu