Japanese observers will attend today's military drill in
Northeast China for the first time, in what experts say is a
substantial step in China-Japan defense ties.
Staff officer Okimura Yoshihiko and Tsubaki Yuichi, an army
attache to China, will be guests at the "Warrior 2007" exercise,
held on a training ground at the Shenyang Military Area.
Analysts also consider the move a sign of the increasing
transparency of the People's Liberation Army.
It is a "tangible measure" of the strengthening military
cooperation between China and the neighboring nations, said Major
General Qian Lihua, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the
Defense Ministry.
"There will be more partnership in defense and security between
China and Japan," Qian told reporters yesterday.
Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the CPC
Central Committee Cao Gangchuan visited Japan from August 29 to
September 3, becoming the first Chinese defense minister on such a
trip since 1998, thanks to a recent thawing in Sino-Japanese
relations.
During the visit, Cao invited Japanese military observers to the
exercise, as part of a raft of military exchange initiatives.
Other joint activities will include a Chinese fleet visiting
Japan at the end of the year and a later visit by a Japanese fleet
to China, according to a joint communiqué signed between the two
militaries during Cao's visit.
"China's military transparency has been increasing, though we
still hope it will become more transparent. This is very
important," said Yuichi. "I hope to take this opportunity to learn
about the strengths of the People's Liberation Army (PLA); their
battle capabilities and tactics."
The exercise, involving more than 10,000 troops from a motorized
rifle division, "does not have any political purpose, nor target
any country," General Liu Zhenwu, deputy chief of the General Staff
of the PLA, told the foreign observers at a meeting yesterday.
Altogether 55 military officers from 35 countries, including
members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United States, Germany and
Australia, have been invited to the drill.
The exercise aims to improve the PLA's battle readiness, provide
an opportunity to share experience with foreign militaries and
increase military transparency, Liu said.
"It is open to military officers from more than 30 countries
with a view to increasing transparency, as it helps reduce
skepticism about our military aims, increase mutual trust and
enhance international cooperation," Liu said.
Since 2002, China has invited foreign military observers to
attend military exercises on five occasions, but today's drill will
have the largest number of foreign observers yet, said Qian.
The observers were also yesterday invited to visit the Academy
of Armored Forces Engineering, a prestigious military institute in
Beijing.
(China Daily September 25, 2007)
