Chinese PLA Troops Arrive In Russia For Tank Biathlon, International Army Games 2020

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) along with their heavy equipment has arrived at the Zabaikalsk railway station in Russia to participate in the Tank Biathlon competition of the annual International Army Games (IAG).

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Zabaikalsk is the final stop on the Russian side of the Russia-China border on the Trans-Manchurian route from Moscow to Beijing. Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia is located on the Sino-Russian border just opposite the Chinese border town of Manzhouli.

This Chinese team reportedly includes 27 PLA soldiers and 18 armoured and wheeled vehicles. According to reports, all the Chinese PLA soldiers have undergone the tests for the COVID-19.

The 6th International Army Games will be held in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Uzbekistan from August 23 to September 5, which will include more than 160 teams from 30 countries.

As per reports, there will be 31 competitions in the International Army Games (IAG) 2020 of which Tank Biathlon is considered as the main attraction. This is the 7th time that the PLA Army’s armoured force has competed in the IAG since 2014, with the second place as the best result for three times. This year’s participants are assigned to a brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army.

“At such a critical moment in fighting COVID-19, the Chinese military’s participation in Russia’s IAG aims to further strengthen the strategic cooperation between the Chinese and Russian militaries and deepen their practical cooperation in military training,” Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for Ministry of National Defense of China, said at a news briefing on July 30.

Via: China Military