Delegation to watch US navy drills
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-20 06:31
A 10-member Chinese military delegation is now in Guam to observe US naval
exercises in the Pacific for the first time.
Members of the Chinese military delegation
talk with a US pilot aboard a US carrier June 18, 2006.
[Xinhua] | The group, including three generals from the army, the air force and the navy
of the People's Liberation Army as well as foreign affairs officials will
witness the drills, dubbed "Valiant Shield 2006," scheduled for June 19-23.
The exercises will involve three US aircraft carrier groups, 30 warships, 280
aircraft and 22,000 soldiers, according to a Xinhua report.
The visit of Chinese military officers was made at the invitation of Admiral
William J. Fallon, commander of the US Pacific Command, during his visit to
China last month.
It is the first time that China has sent observers to watch exercises by
American military in the territory of the United States.
It is also the first time that China has been invited to observe exercises
solely conducted by the US Army, reported Xinhua.
The report said that more than 30 observers from seven countries visited the
aircraft carriers.
The Chinese delegation toured the aircraft carrier the Ronald Reagan on
Sunday.
The invitation to observe the US military exercises is a very important
component of exchanges between the militaries of China and the United States,
Xinhua quoted an unnamed official from the Ministry of Defence as saying in its
earlier report.
"This is not only beneficial to mutual understanding and confidence building,
but it is also beneficial to mutual study and reference and for advancing the
continued development of our militaries," said the
report.
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