JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

China, India begin joint anti-terrorism drill

China, India begin joint anti-terrorism drill

Tuesday, November 05, 2013, 18:20 GMT+7

BEIJING – China and India began a joint anti-terrorism drill on Tuesday, the first such exercise by the Asian powers – which have a sometimes-fraught relationship – for five years.

The world's two most populous countries each sent one company of soldiers to Chengdu, in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, for the "Hand-in-Hand 2013" drill, according to Chinese state media reports.

The joint training exercise comes even as the two remain embroiled in a border dispute that has been unresolved for decades and has occasionally led to military standoffs.

In April, India accused Chinese troops of intruding into Indian-held territory, a row that was only resolved three weeks later when troops from both sides eventually pulled back.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Beijing two weeks ago, signing an agreement with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to step up cooperation on border defence and counter-terrorism training.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters Tuesday that the drill showed "enhancing political-military trust between the two countries".

"Since the beginning of this year, China and India relations have scored new progress," he said.

Indian officials told AFP the country's contingent for the 10-day-long drill was 162 strong and led by a brigadier.

"The joint training exercise is a counter-terrorist exercise with a purpose of exploring useful experience and thoughts, advance pragmatic co-operation, promote friendly environment and enhance mutual trust," an Indian defence ministry statement said.

The first such exercise was held in China in 2007, with another in India the following year.

Beijing blames "terrorist" groups for incidents in its far western region of Xinjiang, home to Muslim Uighurs, and has in the past linked clashes to groups trained in Pakistan, which as well as being India's great rival also shares a border with China.

AFP

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Vietnamese youngster travels back in time with clay miniatures

Each work is a scene caught by Dung and kept in his memories through his journeys across Vietnam

Latest news