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A humanitarian medical rescue exercise ‘Peace Angel 2009’ conducted jointly by China and Gabon concluded successfully on June 28. Maj. Gen. Zhang Yanling, Director of the Health Department of the General Logistics Department of the PLA stated that the exercise, the first of its kind between the two countries, had opened new fields for Sino-Gabonese cooperation. It is also expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation between China and other countries in the African continent1.
Reports noted that China has increased the number of military cooperation and exchange programmes with other countries, especially with those of the ASEAN members. These programmes are meant to provide better understanding of the command and control procedures of their counterparts, and create high-levels of mutual trust as well2.
Meanwhile, at the launch of China's largest fishery patrol ship, China Yuzheng 311, in Sanya, Hainan province, an official stated that China intends to intensify patrols in the South China Sea to protect its fishermen, due to a rising tide of disputes with neighboring countries in this maritime region3.
In other developments, the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama refuted the ‘rumours’ that Sri Lanka and China had concluded an arms deal during the country’s recently concluded civil war4.