ChinaChina to to join join Australia, Australia, US US in in exercises exercises

Beijing confirmed on Thursday Beijingthat China confirmed will on hold Thursday joint military that exercisesChina will in Septemberhold joint military involving exercises Australia in Septemberand the United involving States, Australiain addition and to the its Unitedjoint naval States. drill with Russia in the ObserversSouth said China the drillsSea show next the month. steady development of the Chinese Observers military’s said ties the with drillskey Asia-Pacificshow the steady development of counterparts and signalthe Chinese efforts military’sto ensure ties stability with to key help Asia-Pacificease maritime counterpartstension in the and South signal China efforts Sea.to ensure stability Wu to Qian, help spokesmanease maritime for tensionthe in the SouthChina Sea.

Wu Qian, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, announced at a briefing in Beijing that China, Australia and the United States will conduct “Exercise Kowari 2016” in Darwin, Telephone: Fax: Australia, from Wednesday Ministry of National Defense, to September 11. announced at a briefing in

The exercise, the third Beijingamong thatthe China,three Australia countries’ and groundforces,the United will States involve will drillsconduct for survival “Exercisein the Kowariwild, Wusaid.2016” in Additionally,Darwin, Australia, Chinese from and WednesdayAustralian to troops Septemberwill 11. hold “ExerciseThe exercise, Panda-Kangaroothe third among the 2016” threein Sydney countries’ from Septemberground forces,14 to will 23. involveThe exercise drills willfor survivalinclude suchin the tasks wild, as Wu canoeing,said. Wu Additionally,said. Chinese and AustralianZhang Junshe, troops a researcherwill hold “Exerciseat the PLA NavalMilitary Panda-Kangaroo Studies 2016” Researchin Sydney Institute,from Septembersaid the Kowari14 to exercise23. The exercise mirrors will a “shared readiness to bring the trilateral security relationship forward”.

The fact that the two annual drills involving Australia will be continued this year “demonstrates Australia’s wish to avoid sabotaging its security includeties with such China”, tasks Zhangas canoeing,said. Wu Australiasaid. has joined theUnited Zhang States and Junshe, Japana in researcherpressing at Chinathe PLAto accept Naval an Military international Studies arbitration Institute, rulingsaid thein July Kowariin a exercisecase unilaterally mirrors initiatedbythea “shared readiness Philippines to in bringits disputethe trilateralwith securityChina in relationshipthe South China forward”.Sea.

The Zhang fact said that Australiathe two annualis trying drills to involvingstrike a balance Australia between will be the continuedUS, its traditionalthis year “demonstratessecurity ally, and Australia’sChina, a wish majorto avoideconomic sabotaging and its trade security partner. ties with China”,“It is Zhang wise said.to avoid taking sides between China and the US Australia has joined the United and Statesstop and supportingJapan in US pressing provocation against China over the South China Sea issue,” Zhang added.

In July, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the navies of China and Russia will hold a joint drill in the South China Sea in September Chinato “enhanceto accept thean internationalcapabilities of arbitrationthe two navies rulingto jointlyin July dealin a withcase unilaterallymaritime security initiated threats”.by the PhilippinesOn Thursday,in its Wu dispute said withthe drill China willin the involve South “joint China maritimeSea. Zhang defense said actions”. Australia is trying to Yin strike Zhuo,a balance director betweenof the the ExpertUS, its traditional Consultation security Committee ally, and of China,the People’sa major Liberation economic Armyand trade Navy, partner.said it is natural for “It Beijingis wise andto avoid Moscow takingto hold sides a betweendrill in Chinathe South and the China US Sea and this stop year, supportingsince theyUS provocationhave previously against held China exercisesover thein other South coastalChina Sea regions issue,”of China. Zhang added.The China-Russia exercise is “out of security consideration” and has no specific target, Yin added.

YU FANGPING / FOR CHINA DAILY Klaus Schlappner, the first foreign coach to manage the Chinese national soccer team, receives a gift from a child at a kindergarten in Qingdao on Wednesday in an event to promote youth soccer exchanges between China and Germany. Schlappner, who is German, managed the Chinese team from 1992 to 1993 and led the team to the semifinals of the 1992 AFC Asian Cup.