China and Russia conduct joint military exercises ‘Peace Mission 2009’; China sends its third flotilla to the Gulf of Eden; Pak Defence Minister visits Beijing; China and Japan vow to enhance mutual defence cooperation; PLAAF recruitment finishes
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    • Chinese and Russian armed forces conducted joint military exercises ‘Peace Mission 2009’ involving 1,300 soldiers each. The exercise was intended to strengthen military cooperation as well as Sino-Russian strategic partnership. Over thirty fighter jets and one hundred tanks and armoured vehicles took part in the exercise1. Reports meanwhile stated that a PLA fighter bomber had crashed during the course of the exercises on July 19. The fate of two pilots was not known2.

    Reports noted that China sent its third flotilla to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast to escort merchant vessels and provide them security from the pirates operating in these waters. These included two frigates and a supply ship with East China Sea Fleet (ECSF) of the PLAN3.

    Pakistan Defense Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar visited Beijing during the week and met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie. Liang appreciated Pakistan's firm support on issues like Taiwan, Tibet and human rights. Mukhtar on his part acknowledged that Pakistan was grateful for China’s assistance in a variety of fields4.

    The Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met with the visiting Chief of Staff of Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) of Japan Keiji Akahoshi. Both sides vowed to enhance bilateral defense cooperation. Liang on his part, pointing out the ‘effective mutual cooperation in fighting financial crisis,’ maintained that both the countries were enjoying mutually beneficial strategic relations5.

    In other developments, the process of recruitment to the PLAAF was completed on July 12 with 1,166 college and high school students from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities recruited as flight cadets6. Other reports also noted that the PLA will impart intensive training to more than 10,000 National Defence Students (NDS) in the current year to “prepare the foundation for their all-round development7.” The PLA was also planning to introduce significant reforms in the process of recruiting non-commissioned officers (NCOs)8.

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