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Joint war excercises roar into Shandong
22/8/2005 8:27

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Chinese soldiers and pilots from the Russian Air Force prepare for the second phase of a joint military exercise, held in China's Shandong Peninsula on Saturday.  The first phase of the eight-day war games took place in Vladivostok. - Xinhua

The second phase of the Sino-Russia joint military exercise took place in east China's Shandong Peninsula on Saturday morning, focusing on troop deployment, decision making and ensuring coordinated action.
The evening national news on Chinese state television showed Chinese and Russian officers gathered in a command center before computer screens showing maps of the exercise.
The report showed Chinese soldiers driving tanks and troop carriers and preparing for parachute jumps. It showed Russian fighters and cargo planes landing at a Chinese base and a Chinese schoolgirl giving a bouquet of flowers to a Russian naval officer. The eight-day China-Russia joint military exercise, which has been titled "Peace Mission 2005," involves nearly 10,000 troops from the two countries.
The drill aims to improve the capabilities of the Chinese and Russian armies in combating new threats, dealing with crises and organizing coordinated actions against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The war exercise is scheduled for three phases: strategic consultation and battle planning, transportation and deployment of troops and combat practice.
The first phase was held in Russia's Vladivostok last Thursday.
The russian troops involved in the China maneuvers include officers and soldiers from the country's paratroops, marines, air force and navy. They arrived on the Shandong Peninsula and its offshore waters beginning on August 9.
The chinese troops, including ground forces, navy, marines, air force and paratroops, have been conducting practice exercises on the peninsula since mid-July.



 Xinhua news