Pak, China to hold naval, military wargames
From Javed Akhtar (APP)

BEIJING—Pakistan and China have agreed to hold military and naval exercises on regular basis to learn from each other experience, further improving their defence capabilities. The naval forces of the two countries had conducted a joint search and rescue exercise off the coast of Shanghai in the East China Sea in October, 2003. It was the first time Chinese naval forces held a joint exercise with a foreign counterpart since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Again in August, 2004, the PLA and the Pakistan Armed Forces held an anti-terrorism exercise at Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, northwest China’s Uygur Autonomous Region, bordering Pakistan. Defence sources told APP here these exercises proved successful in developing and understanding new techniques and professional know-how in the relevant fields.
Now, the two sides have reached an understanding making these exercises a regular feature to share each others experience and promote a joint strategy combating non-traditional security threats. Second time, the naval and military exercises are likely to take place in Pakistan next year, as a part of the on-going long-standing defence cooperation between the two countries.
According to PLA sources, the Chinese army has taken an active part to develop cooperation with friendly countries in non-traditional security fields such as joint counter-terrorism, maritime search and rescue, combating piracy, and cracking down on drug production and trafficking. Such co-operation is also aimed at maintaining peace and stability both at regional and international levels. China is pursuing a new security concept of “mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and co-ordination in military-to-military relationship.
Earlier, this week China launched a military exercise code-named “North Sword 2005” in a training base in northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Forty foreign military officers from 24 countries including Pakistan were invited to observe the exercise at the Zhurihe training base, a tactical drill base in Inner Mongolia.
The exercise was an important multilateral military exchange activity with the presence of largest number of foreign observers since the founding of New China in 1949, said a Chinese defense official. The exercise demonstrates the sincere wish of the Chinese army to develop friendly cooperation with foreign armies, said Jia Xiaoning, deputy director of the Chinese Defense Ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office.
It will also help enhance mutual trust and understanding, deepen friendship and cooperation, and promote international and regional security cooperation, Jia said. Jia said the exercise was aimed at fully displaying the new concept of security based on “mutual trust and benefit, equality and cooperation.”
It is the fifth time for China to invite foreign observers to watch its military exercises since 2000. The North Sword 2005 drill, which involves about 16,000 soldiers, has invited the largest number of foreign observers. “The Chinese army is becoming more open and transparent,” said Peng Guangqian, a major general of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
“Such openness and transparency is a refution against the ‘China threat’ rhetoric,” said Peng, who is also a research fellow with the PLA’s Military Academy of Sciences. “Facts have proved that China does not constitute any threat to any country, instead China is a major force in safeguarding world peace and stability.” After the war game, Chinese and foreign military officers will hold academic discussions at the drill base, according to defense sources.