IV-10 Question: In recent years, China has cooperate with other countries in conducting joint military exercises, which often focused on non-traditional security areas. What are China's considerations on that?

A: The first joint military exercise of the Chinese army was between China and Kyrgyzstan in October 2002. Maybe it was of coincidence, or maybe the common demands of the two countries on antiterrorism. When army leaders of the two countries exchanged ideas on strengthening army construction, they both agreed that holding a joint antiterrorist military exercise of non-traditional security field was a good idea. And as a result, the first joint military exercise went smoothly.

Since then, China generally attended bilateral and multilateral joint military exercises with other countries. During the past four years, the country participated in joint military exercises of non-traditional security fields on land and at sea together with countries like France, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, India, Russia, Pakistan and Tadzhikistan. Nowadays, human society is faced with more threats engaged in non-traditional security areas, such as terrorism, extremism, separatism, disease and natural disasters. To deal with all these threats, we need countries to join hands and cooperate on these areas. By holding joint military exercises, we can improve our ability to cope with complicated situations related to non-traditional security field.

Through the joint military exercises, the world gets to know more about the Chinese army, thus there is more political mutual trust and less suspicion between the Chinese army and foreign armies, which makes active contribution to build a peaceful and stable international security environment, and promote the establishment of a harmonious world.

(China.org.cn)