Int'l Army Games have troops from 7 countries in military competition

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By CGTN reporter Meng Qingsheng

The International Army Games, organized by Chinese People's Liberation Army's ground force, entered the second day in Korla City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

Troops from seven countries competed against each other to display their air-defense capabilities, in the “Clear Sky” event.

Infantry fighting vehicle runs along a 9.5 km track in the middle of a desert in northwest China. /Photo by Zhao Yongfeng

The PLA team is from an anti-aircraft missile unit in southern China. Averaged at 22 years at age, most of the servicemen in the team have undergone a training course lasting for at least one year.

The “Clear Sky” event falls on China’s Army Day, August 1. A crowd of more than 7,000 is seen at the site to watch the competition. /Photo by Zhao Yongfeng

As Chinese officer Yang Yong explained, anti-aircraft missile firing was the most important and difficult part of all the challenges. “Once the mission is completed, one can win a gold medal,” he said.

Russian servicemen in a pep-rally before the “Clear Sky” event on the second day of the Int’l Army Games in Xinjiang, northwest China /Photo by Duan Wei

Belarusian participants have a mixed military background. They are selected nationwide from both ground forces and air force troops.

“We have prepared for this 'Clear Sky' game for more than six months. We underwent a series of training exercises, including machine gun firing, infantry fighting vehicle driving, as well as missile firing operations,” said Vadim Trukan, a Belarusian machine gunner.

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