Chinese and Thai Special Forces started a 15-day joint counter-terrorism training exercise from Oct. 6 until Oct. 20 in Guilin of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to People's Daily Online.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Royal Thai Amy (RTA) each sent sixty soldiers to take part in the counter-terrorism in urban areas drill.
Code-named "Strike-2010," the exercise aims "to deepen the on-going exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, and further promote military security and mutual trust," said Lt. General Zheng Qin, deputy commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, in his opening remarks.
This is the third time the armies of the two countries have staged joint training drills since 2007, which analysts say are of great significance despite their small scale.
The previous two were held in China's Guangdong Province in 2007 with 30 troops from each side, and in Thailand's Chiang Mai Province a year later with 24 troops from each country participating.
The training is composed of three stages: weapon demonstrations and skill exchanges, joint training and the final drill.
In the opening ceremony, the Thai soldiers performed Thai Boxing, and the Chinese soldiers performed combat techniques and simulated anti-terror operations in a factory and a supermarket.
Song Qingrui, a researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, sees great potential in China's military exchanges with Thailand and other countries.
"Compared with the drills and military cooperation of the United States and its allies in Asia, China's military exchanges in this area are rare and not that eye-catching," said Song.
But Song said the regular joint trainings between China and Thailand are also "a good example for China's military cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries."
Editor:Chen Jie
