China and France to carry out important military exercises

[Flagg]

CHINA AND FRANCE TO CARRY OUT IMPORTANT MILITARY EXERCISES

Received Monday, 15 March 2004 12:09:00 GMT
BEIJING, March 15 (AFP) - China and France will carry out the most comprehensive military exercises between China and a foreign country this week, a Chinese military official said Monday.
The exercises, scheduled to begin Tuesday in the northeastern port city of Qingdao, will be conducted jointly by a French naval fleet with 322 crew members and the North China Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Navy, the official was quoted by the Xinhua news agency saying.
"The joint maritime exercises between China and France scheduled for Tuesday will be the most comprehensive military exercises between China and foreign countries so far," the captain of a Chinese warship said.
A French military source said the joint exercises will be the biggest between the two countries.
"Our drill this time has reached a high standard and is very technical," the military source said.
Organized a considerable time ago, the exercices have "no relations at all" with the elections to be held in China's rival Taiwan Saturday, a diplomatic source indicated.
"They are a part of the strategic dialogue in bilateral political relations," the source said.
The French naval fleet arrived in Qingdao Friday morning and includes the anti-submarine-warfare destroyer Latouche-Treville, based in Brest, and a light frigate Commandant Birot, based in Toulon.


http://www.ttc.org/200403151209.i2fc9lt15244.htm

[Moderator]

1. locking

duplicate - carry on here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=422975