China, Russia start joint military exercises
(AP/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-08-18 08:43

The forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism have conducted activities in both China and Russia, and have been growing in the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, said Goncharov.

The diplomat expressed hopes that similar drills would be held within the SCO framework in the future, which he said might involve more troops.

Defense ministers and military experts of the SCO member nations, and their ambassadors and military attaches to China have been invited to observe the exercise.

Representatives of SCO observer countries such as Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran are also invited to watch the military exercise, according to military sources.

Exhibition of Russian arms

Some western military analysts say the maneuvers are more of an exhibition of Russian arms — including its long-range strategic bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons — in the hope of attracting Chinese buyers, according to AP.

Still, both countries will be looking to prove their military might during the eight days of war games on the Shandong peninsula.

The U.S. Defense Department claimed last month that China's military was increasingly seeking to modernize, in keeping with its rapid economic growth.

The Russian military is also eager to show it still has muscle despite some woes, AP said.

Analysts have noted the involvement of Russia's Tu-95 strategic bombers and Tu-22M long-range bombers in the exercises — warplanes that can carry conventional or nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

During the drills, the Tu-95s will conduct demonstration flights in the area while the Tu-22Ms will test-fire missiles at ground targets, the deputy chief of Russia's Land Forces in charge of the exercise, Col. Gen. Vladimir Moltenskoi, said last week.

Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, head of the Russian armed forces general staff, said in a newspaper interview last week the aircraft were taking part because the exercises are being staged far from Russian bases and would help enforce a simulated aerial blockade.

"Having such exercises demonstrates the closeness of the two militaries. That's important if China wants to buy these weapons systems," said Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent defense analyst based in Moscow.