China, Russia police hold joint anti-terror drill
October 21, 2014, 6:14 am

Chinese and Russian policemen attend a joint anti-terror drill in Manzhouli City, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 20, 2014 [Xinhua]

Chinese state media reported last month that Chinese militants from the restive region of Xinjiang had fled the country to get “terrorist training” from Islamic State fighters for attacks at home.

Held in Manzhouli city near Russia’s border city of Zabaikalsk, the Sino-Russian drill was aimed at boosting coordinated ability to fight terrorism in the border region.

Monday’s exercise involved planning hostage rescues, Xinhua quoted a Chinese police statement.

“Maintaining the stability of the border region has significant meaning for the bilateral relationship,” said Ma Ming, vice chairman of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and head of the region’s Public Security Department.

According to Ma, criminal activities at the Chinese-Russian border including smuggling, drug dealing and illegal border crossing have increased recently, and cooperation between two countries is imperative.

“The joint drill will certainly strengthen their resolve and capability to fight terrorism,” Ma said.

China’s government is fighting a surge of violence over the past year on militants from Xinjiang who China says are fighting for an independent state called East Turkestan.

More than 200 people have died in unrest in Xinjiang in the past year or so, the government says.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered no effort be spared to track down those behind the attacks in Xinjiang.

“Understand the serious and complex nation of combating terrorism. Go all out to maintain social stability,” said Xi earlier this year.

In August, a multinational anti-terror drill was held in China’s Inner Mongolia by the SCO members, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

China responded cautiously to a call by US President Barack Obama last month for a broad coalition to root out Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, saying the world should fight terror but that the sovereignty of countries must be respected.

TBP and Agencies