BEIJING, Aug 20: The first ever large-scale Sino-Russian war games moved onto Chinese soil on Saturday with elite troops from the two former adversaries taking part, state media reported.

With military precision, Chinese and Russian units began the second phase of the week-long “Peace Mission 2005” exercise on east China’s Shandong peninsula, the Xinhua news agency said.

“The second phase focuses on the transportation and deployment of troops, decision-making and adjustment and organization of coordinated actions,” said Major General Zhang Qinsheng, according to Xinhua.

Senior Chinese and Russian officers assembled at the headquarters of China’s North Sea Fleet in the port city of Qingdao to observe the drill on a large screen, Xinhua reported.

The exercise was taking place against the backdrop of “the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism,” according to the agency.

These threats are usually cited by the Chinese government within the context of its endeavours to control the northwestern region of Xinjiang, home to a Muslim separatist movement.

The first phase of the exercises, involving warships, submarines, bombers, helicopters and fighter planes, began Thursday near the city of Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast.

In the course of the second phase, expected to last until Monday, the two sides will simulate a situation where they have to make decisions on military action in the face of common threats, Xinhua said.

During the third phase of the exercise, due to last from Tuesday until Thursday, the Chinese and Russian troops will jointly practise offshore blockades and amphibious landings.

A total of 10,000 officers and men from the two nations are taking part in the manoeuvre including more than 7,000 from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, according to the agency.

The Russian troops, including officers and soldiers from the paratroops, the marine corps, the air force and the navy, started arriving on Shandong peninsula and offshore waters on August 9, Xinhua said.

Russian equipment that will be tested in the drill includes the Il-76 transport plane, Il-78 refuelling plane, A-50 early warning plane, Tu-95 MS and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, Su-24M2 bomber, and Su-27SM fighter jet, it said.

The exercise is funded with Chinese money, reflecting a wish in Beijing to send a warning to Taiwan, according to a report this week in the Russian newspaper Kommersant.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and threatens to invade if it formally declares independence.

Washington, which has indicated unease over the pace of China’s military build-up, is not attending as an observer but said it was closely monitoring the drills, warning that they should not undermine regional stability. —AFP