Foreign and Military Affairs

China to conduct 30,000-troop military drill

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-09 22:17

BEIJING - China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) will begin a military exercise on Sunday to test and improve the force's combat capability in high-tech warfare, sources from China's Central Military Commission said Saturday.

The exercise will involve 30,000 soldiers from three divisions across three of China's seven military area commands and include military transport planes, fighter jets and attack helicopters, sources said.

The drill, which will include infantry forces, paratroopers and air forces, will center around battle scenarios in a "complex information environment" as well as across different terrains and weather conditions, according to sources.

The exercise will also include long-distance mobilization of ground and air forces, and test their coordination in defense and striking military targets.

During the drill, the PLA will mobilize civilian passenger aircraft and cargo planes to transport soldiers and military equipment, sources said, adding the date to complete the drill has not yet been announced.