PLA will join Russia\`s strategic military drills

China will participate in the Kavkaz-2020 strategic military drills to be held later this month in Russia with troops attached to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theater Command joining militaries from Russia and other participating countries in elimination_ joint strike and battlefield control exercises_ the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Thursday. The PLA's participation in the drills highlights the military ties between China and Russia_ Chinese experts said on Thursday_ as China has had frequent interactions with the Russian military in recent years_ including in multiple large-scale drills_ a joint strategic bomber patrol_ and Russian military parades. India_ which also has close military ties with Russia_ has withdrawn from the upcoming drills amid border tensions with China_ a move that showed its childishness_ experts said. According to the consensus reached by China and Russia_ the Chinese military will send troops to Russia's Astrakhan Region and participate in the Kavkaz-2020 strategic military drills from September 21 to 26_ said a statement released by China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday. The Chinese forces will mainly consist of troops from the PLA Western Theater Command_ which will carry wheeled equipment and light arms and arrive in Russia via China's latest transport aircraft_ the Defense Ministry said. They will join exercises including mobilized defensive elimination_ joint live-fire strike_ multidimensional assault elimination and battlefield situation control_ and militaries from countries including Armenia_ Belarus_ Iran_ Myanmar and Pakistan will also participate_ the statement said. The Kavkaz-2020 will be Russia's largest training event this year_ the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday_ citing the Russian Defense Ministry. Beijing-based military expert Li Jie told the Global Times on Thursday that China's participation in the Russian drills will highlight not only diplomatic_ but also strategic cooperation between the two countries. China and Russia have had several military interactions in various forms in recent years including various drills and the International Army Games organized by Russia_ Li said_ noting that the two countries will continue to enhance their strategic military cooperation. In July 2019_ China and Russia conducted their first joint strategic patrol in Northeast Asia_ with the Chinese side dispatching two H-6K bombers and the Russian side dispatching two Tu-95 bombers. In November and December 2019_ the two countries also conducted naval drills in South Africa and the Gulf of Oman with South Africa and Iran respectively. In June_ PLA honor guards participated in Russia's Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square. -Source: Globaltimes