Chinese troops conduct first military drill in Djibouti | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Chinese troops conduct first military drill in Djibouti

Beijing | ByAgence France-Presse
Sep 26, 2017 07:02 PM IST

State television showed Chinese armoured vehicles moving on a desert track in Djibouti and groups of soldiers firing automatic weapons.

China has staged military exercises in Djibouti after opening its first overseas military base there last month, official media said.

File photo from July 11, 2017 shows a warship carrying Chinese military personnel bound for the country’s first overseas base in Djibouti departing a port at Zhanjiang in Guangdong province.(AP)
File photo from July 11, 2017 shows a warship carrying Chinese military personnel bound for the country’s first overseas base in Djibouti departing a port at Zhanjiang in Guangdong province.(AP)

State television CCTV showed armoured vehicles moving on a desert track, groups of soldiers firing automatic weapons, and cannon pointing towards the horizon.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Dozens of soldiers have been deployed in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius “to reinforce their hardiness in combat and their mastery of military techniques”, the report said.

“This is the first time that officers and soldiers stationed in Djibouti have left their camp to conduct live-fire exercises,” Liang Yang, the base commander, told the broadcaster.

It was unclear when the drills took place. China opened its base in Djibouti in early August.

Personnel will mainly focus on supporting UN peacekeeping operations, evacuating Chinese nationals and providing naval escorts, according to the ministry of national defence.

The Chinese Navy has since 2008 had a presence off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden as part of international efforts to combat piracy.

“This modest live-fire drill was apparently conducted on a designated firing range in Djibouti, and involved a small-scale force, perhaps just a single platoon or maybe a few platoons,” said James Char, a specialist in the Chinese army at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

It did not mean Chinese forces could be expected to carry out “counter-terrorism or constabulary operations in the manner of the US military anytime soon”.

Djibouti is strategically located on the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, controlling access to the Red Sea.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On