One week after the Chinese Defense Minister visited Pakistan, Chinese military planes flew to Pakistan on the 7th for joint exercises of the Chinese and Pakistani air forces. Experts believe that under the epidemic, the “Shaheen (Eagle)-IX” air force joint exercises will be held as usual, which shows that the “profound friendship between China and Pakistan is conducive to improving the comprehensive combat capabilities of the two militaries”, according to Global Times of China.
China’s Ministry of National Defense announced on the 7th that China and Pakistan will hold “Shaheen (Eagle)-IX” air force joint exercises, which will continue until the end of December. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Chinese troops participating in the “Eagle-IX” Air Force joint exercises set off on the same day for the Pakistani Air Force Base in Bholari. The joint exercises are a project within the 2020 China-Pakistan military cooperation plan. It will play a positive role in promoting the development of the relationship between the two militaries, deepening the practical cooperation between the air forces of the two countries, and improving the level of actual combat exercises of the forces of both sides. The news did not disclose the number of participating aircraft types, number or exercise courses.
This is the 9th time that the China-Pakistan Air Force has held the “Shaheen (Eagle)” series of joint exercises. The first “Eagle” series of joint exercises began in March 2011 and was held in Pakistan. The 8th “Eagle” series of joint exercises were held in a place in Northwest China in August 2019 and lasted for half a month. For the first time, the whole process of system confrontation was realized in the exercises. Nearly 50 aircraft of various types were dispatched for the exercises.
On the 1st, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe visited Pakistan. During his visit, Wei Fenghe told Pakistani leaders that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Pakistan, enhance strategic mutual trust, strengthen strategic coordination, and push the relationship between the two militaries to a higher level, in order to jointly respond to various risks and challenges, firmly safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries, and firmly maintain regional peace and stability.
Since this year, the conflict between India and Pakistan at the border has basically not stopped; at the same time, the confrontation between the Chinese and Indian armies has not broken the deadlock.