Type of military exercises
Military exercises fall into ten categories. Live-fire combat is the most common, with 122 such drills or more than half the total in 2014. These drills are conducted in actual combat conditions and effectively elevate troop skills. Inter-regional training, strategic maneuvers, defense and attack, as well as special operations training revealed the comprehensiveness of China’s military exercises. There were also breakthroughs in both their form and subjects. During the navy’s air combat drill, aviation personnel of three fleets appeared in the same battlefield for the first time, staging the first confrontation of new designs and technology and commanding for the first time an early warning aircraft. Almost a hundred aircraft participated in the large-scale air drill. Many new records were set. For instance, the limitations on penetration altitude were lifted for the first time, while live ammunition was used during the whole live-broadcast exercise.
Sino-foreign exercises numbered 27, the second most common category and almost triple the eight exercises in 2013. China’s military exercises have diversified in form, revealing increasingly frequent military exchanges. In 2014, the navy participated in the U.S.-led RIMPAC-2014 multinational exercises as well as the Cobra Gold 2014 exercise hosted by Thailand and the United States. Chinese and Russian military cooperation become closer, with a joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden, and they showed mutual sincerity in planning the Joint Naval Exercise 2014 and the Border Defense Cooperation exercise. Chinese troops also debuted in Russia’s tank and Aviadarts competitions.
Military exercises of all services in 2013
Military exercises of all services in 2014
Mechanized infantry participated more exercises last year than any other arm of the services. The Second Artillery rose to fourth place. Naval fleets, logistics, armored troops, air force units, artillery, naval aviation units, airborne units, special forces and army aviation units were almost on a par, revealing the balanced development of all arms of the services.
Integration, coordination and collaboration among different troops and arms, as well as targeted training highlight the exercises last year. Actual combat training was not empty talk as the seven military regions, the navy, air force and Second Artillery all conducted exercises of higher-levels in medical logistics, equipment supplies, communications, chemical defense and special forces operations.
The Headquarters of the General Staff announced in January 2015 that four series of joint exercises will be held to strengthen special training for different arms. Inter-regional base training will also be held this year.
