On September 17, 2010, China Review News republished a Xinhua report on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) [1] joint military drill – "Peace Mission 2010" in Kazakhstan. Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA and the Chief Commander of the 1,000 PLA troops in the drill, held a press conference on September 16.
According to Ma, the SCO joint military drill is not targeted at any country. The purposes for the dril are:
- Implement the consensus reached by the leaders of all SCO member countries;
- Further strengthen the practical cooperation among the SCO member countries including defense cooperation;
- Further demonstrate the determination, will, and ability to fight together against terrorists, separatists, and extremists;
- Further increase mutual political trust among SCO member countries and enhance the understanding and friendship among the armed forces of the member countries.
[1] Editor’s Note: The SCO members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Source: China Review News, September 17, 2010
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1014/4/8/9/101448906.html?coluid=4&kindid=18&docid=101448906&mdate=0917094801