ISTANBUL: China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are holding their second annual joint air force drill, named Falcon Shield-2024, in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang, China’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The training exercise, which began in late June and is scheduled to conclude in late July, marks a continuation of efforts to strengthen bilateral military cooperation between the two nations. According to the Defense Ministry’s statement, the primary objectives of Falcon Shield-2024 include enhancing mutual understanding and trust, deepening exchanges and cooperation, and fostering strategic alignment towards common goals and expectations.
Last year, the inaugural Falcon Shield-2023 joint training exercise took place in August within the same province of Xinjiang, underscoring the ongoing commitment to bolstering military ties between China and the UAE.
Meanwhile, Chinese and Lao troops are currently engaged in the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
In another joint military exercise, on Tuesday, Chinese troops inaugurated the China-Belarus Eagle Assault-2024 drill in Brest, a city in southwestern Belarus bordering Poland. This joint military exercise highlights the growing partnership between China and Belarus in defence matters, focusing on tactical maneuvers and operational coordination.
