China, India face similar threats- PLA official
November 6, 2013, 5:29 am

The soldiers will conduct drills in “tactical hand signals, arrest and escort, hostage rescue and joint attack, as well as a comprehensive anti-terror combat drill” [Xinhua]

The “Hand-in-Hand 2013” joint exercise includes two Indian and Chinese units comprising of 144 soldiers each.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told reporters the drill “showed the enhanced political mutual trust between our two countries”.

The soldiers will conduct drills in “tactical hand signals, arrest and escort, hostage rescue and joint attack, as well as a comprehensive anti-terror combat drill”.

Yang Jinshan, deputy commander of the Chengdu Unit of the People’s Liberation Army of China, said the “training is intended to exchange anti-terror experiences, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and boost cooperation between the Chinese and Indian armies”.

At Tuesday’s opening ceremony, Yang also said that India and China “face similar threats”.

China is stepping up its campaign against terrorism after last week’s suicide attack at the Forbidden City overlooking Tiananmen square.

Authorities termed that incident a “terrorist attack” and have said that it was carried out by several people with links to a separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement from China’s far-western Xinjiang region, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

On Wednesday, a series of devices packed with ball-bearings exploded outside a provincial headquarters of China’s ruling Communist Party, police and reports said.

Unlike China where incidents of targeted terror-related violence has been sparse, India has been among the most affected by terrorist attacks.

The Global Terrorism Index – published in December 2012 by the US and Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace think tank ranked India among the top four nations which has been a target of terror.

“Hand-in-hand 2013” will be the third joint military exercise between China and India after a gap of five years. The first exercise was held in China’s Kunming city in 2007.

The two sides have signed a crucial Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing.

With inputs from Agencies