Chinese, Kyrgyz troops cooperate in anti-terror drill

About 700 border defense troops from China and Kyrgyzstan took part in a live-fire anti-terrorism drill in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Tuesday.

Code-named Tianshan III, the drill took place in a mountainous area in the Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, which borders Kyrgyzstan. It was conducted as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's goal of improving anti-terrorism cooperation.

The drill tested the ability of border defense units from China and Kyrgyzstan to jointly handle intensified threats as terrorist organizations continue to penetrate Central Asian countries, send trained members back to their home countries and smuggle firearms.

"Based on terrorist incidents that have taken place around the world in recent years, we have included all kinds of scenarios that could possibly happen to ensure the drill is as close to real combat as possible," said Tao Wanqian, head of the Xinjiang Border Control Force, part of the Ministry of Public Security.

In the drill, border control forces stopped a group of "terrorists" in two vehicles attempting to reach the mountains to flee China via Kyrgyzstan by driving through a checkpoint.

After their suspicious behavior alerted the troops, the group crashed into the checkpoint and some got out and attacked using axes. The border units quickly surrounded the "terrorists" from three directions and "killed" six while arresting one.

Other "terrorists" used gasoline bombs to attack a station at the China-Kyrgyzstan border. Some who were arrested were questioned, and the troops learned about a secret camp in China's border area.

Based on the SCO protocols, forces from the two nations set up a joint command center to clean out the camp.

Fifty Kyrgyz troops rounded up some "terrorists" while Chinese forces deployed three fixed-wing drones to gather intelligence on the camp and send live images to the command center.

Chinese attack helicopters, armored vehicle units and four armed drones were deployed while satellite images helped plot accurate attacks.

The ground troops wiped out the "terrorists" who refused to surrender with grenades and grenade launchers.

Over 20 members of the Snow Eagle unit also participated. The unit is the Xinjiang border defense force's elite female special combat team, established in 2015.

Zhu Tingting, 24, was a sniper posted atop a building whose mission was to stop the checkpoint attacks. "Women can be more patient under pressure. It is the first time I've participated in a drill of this scale. It truly tests our combat skills," she said.

Turganbayev Nurbek, commander of Kyrgyz troops during the drill, said, "Cooperation is key in fighting terrorism. My role is to command our troops, including our special combat unit in Kyrgyzstan, from the joint command center in China."

Representatives from the defense and anti-terror forces of SCO members Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan observed the drill.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn