When the countdown to the joint anti-terrorism military exercise of "Peace Mission 2007" to be staged by the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) began, the PLA Daily reporter interviewed Major General (retired) Wang Haiyun, senior advisor of the Center for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies and former Chinese military attaché to Russia. As an expert on Russia issue, Wang Haiyun participated in the whole process of the Sino-Russian joint military exercise coded "Peace Mission 2005" when he served as the military attaché to Russia. He observed that the joint anti-terrorism military exercise of "Peace Mission 2007" is a major event of the SCO in defense security. A correct reading of this military exercise requires you to have a better understanding of the SCO and to master four key words, namely, "peace", "cooperation", "anti-terrorism" and "not directed against other countries".
The first international organization to hold anti-terrorism flag
Wang Haiyun stated that the Central Asia region where some SCO member states belong to is an extremely sensitive region in security. Therefore, on the very day of June 15, 2001 when the SCO was established, the member states signed the Shanghai Convention on Suppressing Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, which preceded the happening of September 11 terrorism attack. It can be safely said that the SCO outdid any other international organizations in being the first to hold anti-terrorism flag, which is an epitome of the SCO member states in being farsighted and sagacity. In the cooperation in defense security rests a key sector of cooperation of the SCO with the heart residing in jointly cracking down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, and safeguarding and ensuring regional peace and stability. As a matter of course, today's SCO has developed into a regional organization enjoying omni-bearing and multi-field cooperation.
Joint anti-terrorism opens a new field in defense security cooperation
The impending joint anti-terrorism military exercise of "Peace Mission 2007" has several highlights that will attract attention. For example, it is a joint and multilateral exercise staged within the framework of the SCO, which boasts the largest dimension, with all 6 members' participation and with the highest degree of coordination. When the exercise kicks off, heads of state and defense ministers of the SCO member states will be there to watch the exercise, which is another precedent in its military exercises and symbolizes that the defense security cooperation of the SCO has moved up to a new level.
"With regard to the impacts and significance of the exercise, it at least should be perceived from the following two aspects: 1) It displays the firm resolve and new thinking of the SCO member states in clamping down on the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. That is to say that the member states will get united, engage in cooperation and close coordination, and take joint action to safeguard and ensure regional security and stability. 2) It goes beyond any doubt that the exercise will deter effectively the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, generate positive influence on regional peace and stability, and make great contributions to anti-terrorism in the world. The SCO member states boast a total area of 30 million sq. km, occupying about 3/5 of the Euro-Asia Continent and 1.489 billion people, accounting for 1/4 of the world population, which fact speaks for itself with regard to its role in the global war on terror."
The joint military exercise definitely not implies "military alliance"
Wang Haiyun noted, "Peace Mission 2007" is a joint anti-terrorism exercise, which is clearly manifested in its problem scenario. The whole course of the exercise will be open and transparent, allowing multinational news media to cover the story. "Holding joint military exercise does not necessarily mean that the SCO is going for 'military alliance'. China has conducted more than 17 joint military exercises with ten-plus countries. Does it mean to say that China is entering into military alliance with any of these countries? The answer is certainly negative. The nature and the orientation of the SCO is crystal clear-a regional cooperation organization, including the cooperation in politics, economy, security and humanism, and besides, the cooperation has all along been under the guidance of the "Shanghai Spirit", to wit, mutual-trust, mutual-benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversified civilizations and seeking common development. This kind of cooperation is diametrically different from alliance."
Source:PLA Daily
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