China's PLA steps up preparation for Army Games

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01:17

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has intensified preparation for International Army Games (IAG) 2018, with an infantry fighting vehicle team sweating out in the deserts of northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and an airborne platoon conducting drills in central Hubei Province as part of their training for the annual event.

The military games, initiated by Russia in 2014, will be co-organized this year by China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Iran and Armenia from July 29 to August 11. IAG 2018 will consist of 28 military competitions. China will organize four of these while taking part in 18 contests being held in the other host countries.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), addresses a press conference in Beijing, China, on June 28, 2018. /Photo via MND‍

The PLA “will send delegations to Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus from late July to mid-August to participate in the International Army Games 2018. And we will also host four competitions in China,” Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), announced at the ministry’s monthly press conference on June 28.

“The PLA Army will host Suvorov Attack, Clear Sky and Safety Route in Korla of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the PLA Navy will host Seaborne Assault in Quanzhou City of southeast China’s Fujian Province,” Wu said in announcing the contests China will host this year.

China has been taking part in the IAG since the inaugural event and began to organize segments of the Games in 2017. Last year too, China hosted four competitions with Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan being the other co-organizers.

Six new participants

An airborne platoon of the Chinese Air Force is stepping up training in central China's Hubei Province to prepare for the 2018 International Army Games. /Photo via CCTV

This year, IAG will bring together 181 teams from 32 countries, a significant jump from last year when 150 teams from 28 countries participated. Also, there will be six new participant countries this year, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Friday.

"It is a pleasure to see that the scope of competitions expand geographically and the list of participants grow,” Shoigu was quoted by Russia’s TASS news agency as saying. ”Military servicemen from Algeria, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan and the Philippines will demonstrate their skill for the first time,” he said.

“The Games begin in one month’s time from now. During this period everything must be done to create the maximum comfortable conditions not only for participants, but also for many devotees of army sports," Shoigu said.

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that IAG 2018 will bring together 181 teams from 32 countries. /VCG Photo

China’s MND spokesperson Wu informed that working teams from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Venezuela, and Egypt visited China last month to “carry out an onsite survey of the facilities and supporting guarantee conditions of the competition fields and work transition.”

“The Chinese military has sent personnel to relevant countries to organize onsite inspection. The competition teams from the Chinese Army, Navy and Air Force are now having targeted training according to the program,” he said.

“Next, Chinese military will steadily advance all preparations for the hosting of and participation in the competitions. With the aim of enhancing exchanges and training our troops, we will consult skills and deepen exchanges with foreign militaries during the competition,” he added.

(With input from agencies)

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