India, China to hold joint military exercises from Dec 10

TIL Desk/World/Beijing/ The militaries of China and India should “work hand in hand” for the benefit of people of the two countries, the Chinese defence ministry said on Thursday, as the armies of the two countries are all set to resume joint military exercises next month after a gap of a year following the Doklam standoff.

The 7th India and China joint military exercises, ‘Hand in Hand’, focussing on counter-terrorism operations will be held in southwest China’s Chengdu city from December 10 to December 23, defence ministry spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang told a media briefing in Beijing. Each side will send 100 troops to take part in the 14-day drill, he said.

The exercises will be held after a gap of one year as both the sides were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector of the border in 2017. “The two sides are preparing for the exercises now. The drill will promote understanding between the two militaries and improving their capabilities in fighting terrorism,” Col Ren said.