PRESS RELEASE

SCO To Conduct Its Largest Joint Military Exercise

Aug. 22, 2014 (EIRNS)—THe Shanghai Cooperation Organization is to commence the largest joint military exercise in its history, called Peace Mission 2014, on Aug. 24, at the Zhuirihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Some 7,000 troops from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have already arrived at Zhuirihe with their equipment, including armored vehicles, helicopters and other aircraft.

"This drill aims at improving member countries's capacity to strike against the 'sthree evil forces's of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and at boosting the militaries's coordinated ability to fight against non-traditional security threats, including terrorism,"

reported the People's Daily, today.

The People'ss Daily report also stresses that the exercise will be open and accessible to the public at large. "China and Russia have released the schedule, location, and military deployments of the drill," they report.

"Furthermore, organizers will invite the SCO secretariat and regional anti-terrorism agencies, along with six observer nations including Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and India, and three dialogue partners including Sri Lanka, Byelorussia and Turkey, to review the drill. Military attachés to China from more than 60 countries are also listed on the invitation."