Joint military exercises enhance SCO cohesion

Yang Yujun, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), stated that the joint military exercises had greatly enhanced the cohesion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the regular press conference on the afternoon of May 31, 2012 in retrospect of the SCO cooperation process in the field of defense and security.

Yang Yujun said the defense and security cooperation is one of the important cooperative programs within the SCO.

Through the defense and security cooperation, the mutual trust in military security among the SCO member countries has been greatly strengthened, and their abilities to jointly cope with new challenges and new threats have been significantly improved, which plays an active role in maintaining the regional peace and stability.

Yang also said that all the previous joint exercises held within the SCO framework have centered on the subjects of deterring and striking the "three evil forces" (terrorism, separatism and extremism) as well as improving the capability to deal with new challenges and new threats.

After the successful practice of the previous 8 joint exercises, the scale of the SCO member countries' military exercises has developed from the initial company-level tactical exercise to the present joint combat exercise of all services and arms which integrates strategic consultation, battle preparation and battle execution. The exercises location has extended from the border port, border area and coastal area to the strategic depth and hinterland.

Yang Yujun further noted that the joint military exercises have consolidated and deepened the defense and security cooperation within the SCO, strengthened the SCO cohesion and enhanced the strategic mutual trust between China and the SCO member countries.