Islamabad(AsiaNews) –China“is ready to conduct an anti-terrorism drive in Asia withPakistanfor lasting peace and mutual prosperity”, said the Chinese General Lu Dengming, Chief of Staff of the Chendu military region. He was speaking at the concluding session of 10 days of joint military exercises betweenPakistanandChina.
The general said: “For many yearsPakistanandChinahave remained focused on economic development and regional stability; at the same time we are confronting three evil forces – terrorism, extremism and separatism.”
In such a scenario, “the whole world must benefit each other and enhance cooperation to combat these evils.Beijingis against all forms of terrorism and insists on international cooperation and the conducting of anti-terrorism campaigns.”
Li said the Pakistani army is “highly professional: it has advanced technological arms and dedicated troops. We were impressed by the high quality of the exercises.”
The statements made by the Pakistani Corps Commander, General Tariq Majid, were in the same vein. He told a press conference: “Our country andChinahave many shared enemies: standing united, we can eliminate the menace of terrorism, which is affecting the entire fabric of human society.” The issue of terrorism is keenly felt byBeijingthat is trying in all ways possible to prevent what it calls “popular uprisings” in the northern region of Xinjiang, the homeland of the ethnic Uighurs of Muslim faith.
The region bordersAfghanistan,Pakistan,Russia,Mongoliaand three ex-Soviet Republics of centralAsia. Many human rights activists insist “terrorism” is used as an excuse by the Communist government to persecute the Uighur minority.
The decision to hold the exercises was taken during the visit inPakistanof the Chinese president Hu Jintao and they follow another set held inChinain 2004. The recent drills were unique because they marked the first time Chinese troops left their country to do exercises abroad.
Beijingis the main supplier of conventional arms toPakistanbut many analysts claim the Chinese government also backsIslamabad’s nuclear and missile programmes.
