Senior Colonel Li Shuyin, a female researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese PLA and expert on Russian military studies, who is observing the China-Russia joint exercise Zapad/Interaction-2021 on site, explicated in detail the highlights of this military event in a recent interview.
• On new features of this joint exercise
Li Shuyin: Since the military exercise “Peace Mission - 2005”, China and Russia have held joint military exercises under the bilateral framework for 16 years. Compared with the previous Peace Mission exercises and the naval exercises “Joint Sea”, I think this exercise has changed in following ways:
Firstly, this is an exercise dominated by the Chinese military in China, instead of going abroad to participate in the strategic exercises led by the Russian military.
Secondly, in previous joint exercises, Chinese and Russian participating troops would plan independently and act in respective groups under the same combat scheme, mostly demonstrating the relatively independent operations of both parties in the same battlefield environment. However, this joint exercise has realized mixed grouping, joint planning and training.
Thirdly, from the perspective of the courses, joint operations account for an even larger part, featuring practicality and systematicity.
• On China-Russia joint operations
Li Shuyin: The joint operations have been further improved this time. A unified joint information system with bilingual (Chinese-Russian) languages are developed in this exercise, through which the video information and data information can be better interconnected and communicated for sharing, and the operational rules also realized unification.
• On Chinese military's achievements in war preparedness
Li Shuyin: The joint exercise demonstrated the Chinese military's capabilities in all aspects. It has made great breakthroughs in equipment, tactics and command capabilities. First of all, the Chinese military's weapons and equipment have been greatly improved, which has been proved by an integrated display of KJ-500 airborne early warning and control system (AWACS), J-20 stealth fighter, J-16 fighter jet, reconnaissance-strike drone and new-type armored assault vehicles.
In terms of specific tactics, the exercise has achieved the low-altitude parachute landing of airborne troops at multiple altitudes, and mixed delivery of both personnel and equipment for the army aviation and special operations forces. These specific tactics have never been drilled in the past.
In addition, breakthroughs have also been made in the command capabilities for joint operations. Relying on the network information system, the participating officers and soldiers have built a smoother command link.
• On the significance of this joint exercise
Li Shuyin: First of all, the joint exercise fully demonstrates the China-Russia friendly and cooperative relations of high level, as well as the friendship and trust between the two militaries that are neither restricted by time and space nor affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it displays the firm determination of both sides to safeguard world peace and regional stability, and also deters the terrorist forces and their supporters who intend to make terrorist incidents and disrupt regional stability.