1. This year the People's Liberation Army (PLA) concluded its first long-distance overland maneuver.

The mechanized infantry brigade from the Shenyang Military Area Command played the role of the "Red Army" and trekked more than 1,000 kilometers to the designated combat area, where they launched a fierce attack on the "Blue Army", an armored brigade from the Beijing Military Area Command.

Chinese military experts who were invited to direct and assess the exercise said that the exercise led the way for more cross-regional, long range training maneuvers to be undertaken by Chinese ground troops. It was a positive start to the army's move towards the use of information-technology in military training.

2.The first joint naval exercise undertaken by China and the US

Chinese naval vessels, the guided-missile destroyer Qingdao and supply ship Hongzehu, conducted offshore search and rescue exercise with US navy vessels northwest of the Port of San Diego, on September 20. This military exercise, the first between the navies of China and the US, indicates that the relationship between the security forces of the two nations is strengthening.

3. Cooperation 2006: Tajikistan and China run through anti-terror exercises

China and Tajikistan held their first joint military exercise in Kulyab, Tajikistan, on September 22 and 23.

This was the first time that the Chinese army had successfully cooperated with the army of another nation.

4. PLA's mobile division in military training exercises

Between October 12 and 18, 2006, a mobile division of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) undertook combat exercises at a PLA training base in Jinan Military Area in an operation codenamed "Queshan-2006".

The incredible transparency and strictness of the exercise was considered a reflection of the PLA's confidence.

5. "Vanguard-206B" military exercise

Codenamed Vanguard-206B, the military exercise involved soldiers from the Jinan Military Region and was conducted in Laizhou Bend, Shandong.

More than 8,000 personnel troop took part in the drill.

6. Friendship-2006: China-Pakistan conduct joint anti-terrorism exercises

Held between December 11 and December 18 in the hilly area of northern Pakistan's Abbottabad, the purpose of the exercise was to practice fighting terrorism, strengthen cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of non-traditional security and safeguard the peace and stability of the region. The exercises did not target any third party or infringe on the rights or interests of other countries.

By People's Daily Online