Beijing: Chinese and Russian forces will take part in joint military exercises in southern Russia later this month along with troops from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan and others, China’s Defence Ministry announced on Thursday.
The “Caucus 2020” drills will deploy wheeled vehicles and light weaponry to be flown to the drill location by China’s latest version transport aircraft.
The exercises running from September 21 to 26 will focus on defensive tactics, encirclement and battlefield control and command, the ministry said.
China promoted the exercises as having special meaning for China-Russia ties “at this important moment when the whole world is fighting the pandemic”.
Since establishing a “comprehensive strategic partnership” two decades ago, China and Russia have cooperated increasingly closely on military matters and diplomacy, largely to counter US influence.
Read the article in The Sydney Morning Herald (AP, Reuters).