China have joined forces with a ‘new friend’ in Europe after the two countries were spotted conducting military exercises together.
Images have emerged showing the East Asian superpower’s forces taking part in a drill called ‘Peace Guardian 2025’ near Bejing alongside troops from Serbia
A senior Chinese official announced the collaboration earlier this month, saying how it aims to “strengthen combat capabilities” and “deepen cooperation between the two militaries” as tension over Taiwan and the possible outbreak of WW3 continue to intensify.
Participating soldiers could be seen engaging in a range of activities including shooting drills, indoor and outdoor maneuvers, as well as the use of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles at an undisclosed location in the country’s Hebei Province.
Although it served as an opportunity to exchange experiences, compare knowledge, and improve skills in tactics, the focus of the exercise was the use of drones in the execution of special forces tasks.
Belgrade wassaid to be “impressed” by its Chinese counterparts, confirming in a statement how they “showed an exceptional level of organisation and professionalism.”
The Serbian Foreign Military insists the exercise boosted military co-operation and enhanced co-ordination in conducting missions with foreign militaires and in international environments.
“The training in China was the first joint training of the armies of the two countries,” the country’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Its successful implementation has given an impetus to the strengthening of military-military cooperation and improved mutual understanding and the ability of combat teams to carry out tasks with foreign armed forces and in the international environment.”
China’s budding allyship with Serbia comes not as a surprise with the Balkan leader, President Aleksandar Vučić, describing Bejing as his country’s “most precious friend” during a meeting with President Xi Jinping in Moscow back in May.
Serbia adopts a policy of military neutrality, typically refraining from joining collective defence organisations, instead focusing on the development of cooperation with individual partners.
They have already acquired various Chinese weapons, including drones and surface-to-air missile systems.
It’s understood the deepening ties between both countries is sparking unease in the European Union .
Serbia are currently not a member, though negotiations have been ongoing since 2014 after it became a candidate country in 2012 meaning it still has to align its foreign policy with that of the EU.