This was the first joint anti-terrorist exercise of the neighboring countries since Russia invaded Ukraine. The two sides also discussed deepening border cooperation.
China and Russia have held a joint military exercise targeting cross-border terrorism, a Chinese military official said Wednesday, as Russian authorities become increasingly concerned about terrorist attacks.
The exercise took place in a river area near the Heilongjiang Bridge, which connects the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk with the Chinese city of Heihe, on June 25, the official People’s Liberation Army Daily reported.
It was the first joint anti-terrorist exercise between the neighboring countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
The exercise took place just days after terrorist attacks in Russia’s southern Dagestan region on June 23, in which at least 22 people were killed in shootings at two synagogues, two Orthodox churches and a police station.
Terrorist attack in Dagestan kills 20 people and injures 46
In March, more than 140 people were killed in an attack on a concert hall in Moscow – the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia in nearly two decades. The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility, but Moscow tried to link Ukraine to the attack, which was denied by Ukrainian authorities.
Photo gallery: Attack claimed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State leaves a trail of destruction and death in Moscow
Last week’s joint exercise involved simulating “terrorists trying to cross the border” to carry out attacks, the paper said.
Chinese and Russian troops used aerial reconnaissance, maritime interception and ground ambushes to block and capture terrorists during the exercise.
The exercise demonstrated the “firm determination” of both armed forces to take effective measures to combat all forms of terrorism, separatism and extremism, while jointly securing their border areas, the paper said. The same source said the two sides also They discussed deepening border cooperation.
Last week’s joint exercise follows an agreement between Chinese and Russian leaders to strengthen cooperation on law enforcement and defense, including by expanding joint training and exercises, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing in May.
Xi Jinping tells Putin that China and Russia will “preserve justice in the world”
The Chinese and Russian coast guards also signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime law enforcement cooperation in April last year.
This is not the first time the two countries have held joint exercises focused on counter-terrorism. In 2019, China’s paramilitary People’s Armed Police Force took part in an exercise with the Russian Guard held in Russia.
China has also stepped up its own campaign against terrorism and separatism.particularly in Xinjiang, although Beijing has claimed that the far western region of the country has not seen any terrorist attacks since 2017. Chinese authorities are accused of human rights violations against Uighurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
In March, China and Russia held a maritime exercise with Iran, focusing on efforts to combat piracy. China and Russia also held joint naval and air exercises in the East Sea in July last year.
Source: Observadora
