This is the first peacekeeping exercise organized by China
BEIJING, September 6. /TASS/. International peacekeeping exercises Shared Destiny 2021 ("A common destiny-2021") with the participation of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), as well as the armed forces of Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand began on Monday in the Chinese province of Henan. This was reported by the Central Television of China.
The maneuvers take place at the PLA ground forces training ground in Queshan County. They were the first peacekeeping exercises organized by China. The military personnel of the four countries will perform tasks that are most often faced by UN peacekeeping contingents.
In particular, the participants of the exercises will work out joint reconnaissance in the combat area, patrolling the territory, escorting convoys and cargo, ensuring the protection of civilians and responding to terrorist threats, deploying on the ground and building temporary strong points and bases, medical evacuation from the battlefield, as well as providing anti-epidemic measures.
The exercises will last until September 15. The total number of military personnel taking part in them is not reported.
China's participation in peacekeeping operations
China is one of the most active participants in UN peacekeeping operations. As a member of the State Council, Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi said in June of this year, to date, more than 50 thousand PLA servicemen have taken part in 29 completed and active peacekeeping missions around the world. At least 24 Chinese peacekeepers were killed while on duty.
In addition, Wang Yi noted that China has created a reserve contingent that can be quickly deployed to carry out UN peacekeeping operations. Its number is 8 thousand soldiers and officers of the PLA and 300 soldiers of the People's Armed Police (internal troops).