2nd Phase of China-Kazakhstan Anti-terror Drill Completed -- china.org.cn

China wrapped up the second phase of its joint anti-terror drill with Kazakhstan at noon today in Yining, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Yining game consists of five parts, simulating a battle in which Chinese guards gradually forced the terrorists into a narrow valley and cliff caves.

It lasted two hours and ten minutes, with groups of the mock terrorists being eliminated by the police forces consisting of artillery, police dogs, cavalry, special services and other troops.

Chinese troops of the "Tianshan-I (2006)" exercise in Yining were mainly composed of border police and anti-terror special force in Xinjiang.

Some 700 police force were deployed on the game equipped with advanced weapons including armed helicopters and armored anti-riot vehicles, the police authority said.

Around 100 observers from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) -- which includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- were in Yining to evaluate the drill.

They were satisfied and applauded to the participating troops, the police said.

The drill is the first ever joint anti-terrorism exercise between the two countries' law enforcement bodies and special forces within SCO framework.

China and Kazakhstan on Thursday finished the first phase of the drill in Kazakhstan's eastern Almaty region. Kazakhstan's border-guard force also mobilized armed helicopters, armored anti-riot vehicle and other military equipments.

China's police authority said the exercise was held to demonstrate SCO's latest progress in combating terrorists in the region, namely the "three evil forces" of terrorists, separatists and extremists.

According to China's Ministry of Public Security, the exercise was aimed at implementing the consensus on enhancing security cooperation among SCO member states reached at the SCO summit in June, and improving coordination between their law enforcement departments and special services.

"The exercise will help establish SCO's active role in maintaining regional security and stability," said Men Hongwei, vice minister of public security and commander of the Chinese troops for the drill .

Men said the police force will also explore new patterns of security cooperation through the exercise, noting that both traditional combating forces like cavalry and the modern ones are participating in the drill.

China shares a 1,700-kilometer border with Kazakhstan, the longest after its boundary with Russia. Dr. Feng Yujun, from the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the two countries settled border disputes in 1999, and it is of great political and strategic significance for them to have cross-border anti-terror cooperation.

A number of anti-terror exercises have been held among SCO member states, including the war game codenamed "Peaceful Mission - 2005" held by Chinese and Russian forces. The member states will stage another round of anti-terrorism military exercise in Russia next year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2006)