RMSMC Issue #4565: Central Asia [23 Sep 2005] http://www.rmsmc.com/
08. PLA To Set Up First Air Force Base Overseas To Help Krygyzstan Fight Terrorism Hong Kong Tai Yang Pao (Internet Version-WWW) in Chinese 27 May 05
["PLA Sets Up First Air Force Base in Central Asia to Help Kyrgyzstan Fight Terrorism"]
China hopes to set up its first air force base outside the country, stationing the PLA in Central Asia. Yesterday, Krygyzstan's Acting President Bakiyev disclosed on his own initiative that Kyrgyzstan will allow China or Russia to set up an air force base within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in the southern city of Osh.
Bakiyev indicated in an exclusive interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant that Kyrgyzstan is preparing for the establishment of a new air base at Osh which, if needed, could be used by forces from the member states of the Chinese-led "Shanghai Cooperation Organization" and the Russian-led "Collective Security Treaty Organization." Bakiyev expressed confidence that setting up a foreign air force base at Osh will counterbalance religious extremist organizations which, although not running rampant at present, do have an aggressive nature.
The PLA has never before had an air base overseas. If it is able to establish a military base in Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the SCO, it would be the first time the PLA has ever set up an air base outside China's borders.
Kyrgyzstan already has two foreign air force bases within its borders: the Russian air force base at Kant and the US air force base at Manas Air Field. Bakiyev indicated that these two air bases will continue to exist as needed in accordance with the agreements signed with Russia and the United States, and that the two will continue to carry out their respective functions.
Two China-Kyrgyzstan joint antiterrorism exercises
Kyrgyzstan, other Central Asian countries, and China's northwest frontier have for years been threatened by the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states have concluded the "Shanghai Convention on Fighting Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism," making it very clear that the "three forces" pose a huge threat to the political, economic, and social stability, the territorial integrity, and the national security of the SCO member states, and that fighting the "three forces" is the common mission of the SCO member states. The conduct of joint antiterrorism exercises is a specific measure to implement this convention.
China and Kyrgyzstan conducted joint antiterrorism military exercises in 2002 and 2003 within the SCO framework. The October 2002 exercise was the first joint military exercise with actual forces which China ever conducted with the armed forces of a foreign country. The exercise in August the year before last was the first exercise China and Kyrgyzstan conducted with other SCO member states under the SCO framework. China and Russia plan to conduct a joint military exercise called "Friendship 2005" next fall.
************************
Leigh www.leighm.net
Have you seen my newsfeeds?: http://leighmdotnet.blogspot.com/ Got RSS?: http://www.furl.net/members/leighm/rss.xml