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`Sino-Russian military exercises not aimed at third country`
Beijing, Aug 16: China today said that the planned military exercises with Russia are not targeted at a third country but aimed to avoid `dangerous military activities` along the borders of the two nations.
Beijing, Aug 16: China today said that the planned military exercises with Russia are not targeted at a third country but aimed to avoid "dangerous military activities" along the borders of the two nations.
"The exercises are not targeted at a third country," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said. China last month announced that it would hold a signals and communications exercise with Russia along its border areas in inner Mongolia in mid-August. However, no dates were given. Analysts here consider the exercises is a 'big signal' to the West, especially the US which is slowly amassing its troops in Central Asia, ostensibly to fight terrorism.
"The purpose of the Sino-Russian military exercise is to test the reliability of the regulated communication modes and to ensure effective prevention of any possible dangerous military activities in the border areas," Kong said.
The exercises would be held to implement a bilateral agreement signed between China and Russia in July 1994, he said.
The two sides have discussed holding another round of exercises this month in inner Mongolia, he added.
The military exercises is the first since the two countries signed the landmark Sino-Russian good-neighbourly treaty of friendship and cooperation in 2001, analysts said.
Apart from sending political and military signals to the rest of the world on the Sino-Russian strategic ties, the exercise is also aimed at curbing rampant smuggling and other illegal activities, especially along the eastern China-Russia borders based on an agreement this June, they said.
"The exercises are not targeted at a third country," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said. China last month announced that it would hold a signals and communications exercise with Russia along its border areas in inner Mongolia in mid-August. However, no dates were given. Analysts here consider the exercises is a 'big signal' to the West, especially the US which is slowly amassing its troops in Central Asia, ostensibly to fight terrorism.
"The purpose of the Sino-Russian military exercise is to test the reliability of the regulated communication modes and to ensure effective prevention of any possible dangerous military activities in the border areas," Kong said.
The exercises would be held to implement a bilateral agreement signed between China and Russia in July 1994, he said.
The two sides have discussed holding another round of exercises this month in inner Mongolia, he added.
The military exercises is the first since the two countries signed the landmark Sino-Russian good-neighbourly treaty of friendship and cooperation in 2001, analysts said.
Apart from sending political and military signals to the rest of the world on the Sino-Russian strategic ties, the exercise is also aimed at curbing rampant smuggling and other illegal activities, especially along the eastern China-Russia borders based on an agreement this June, they said.
Bureau Report