Turkey, China start commando training exercise

A week-long joint military training exercise between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the People's Liberation Army of China started yesterday, China Radio International (CRI) reported. Stating that the exercise is first of its kind, CRI said the exercise started at the TSK's Mountain Brigade Commando School and Training Center in Egirdir, Isparta, in southern Anatolia. The exercise focuses on improving commando war techniques in mountainous areas and giving tactical information, and also includes a joint drill. "The exercise is aimed at deepening mutual understanding and trust, as well as boosting concrete cooperation, between the two armies," said CRI. "It also aims to increase the joint combat capability of commando troops of the two countries." Turkey and China also conducted a joint air drill in the central Anatolian province of Konya in September.