SAF AND PLA IN JOINT COUNTER-TERRORISM TRAINING

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) are conducting a counter-terrorism training exercise, codenamed COOPERATION 2010, from 18 to 26 Nov. Brigadier-General (BG) Teo Jing Siong, Commander of the SAF's 2nd People's Defence Force (2 PDF) and Major-General Gao Jian'guo, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Beijing Military Command, officiated at the opening ceremony at Clementi Camp on 19 Nov.

Comprising seminars, planning exercises and response drills, COOPERATION 2010, the second in its series, will focus on counter-terrorism security operations for major international events.

About 60 personnel from the SAF and PLA each are participating in this nine-day exercise. Representing the SAF are personnel from 2 PDF, Headquarters 1st Singapore Infantry Brigade, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group, the Medical Response Force and the Military Police Command. Participants from the PLA include personnel from the PLA Headquarters, Beijing Military Command, Beijing Garrison and the Chemical Defence Regiment of the Beijing Military Command.

At the opening ceremony, BG Teo extended a warm welcome to the PLA troops: "Singapore welcomes China's continued defence exchanges and interactions with our region at the bilateral and multilateral levels, which would help foster cooperation and better understanding between regional militaries."

The exercise, first held in Guilin, China, in 2009, provides opportunities for interaction and cooperation between personnel of both armed forces. It also highlights the warm and growing defence relations between the two armed forces, which engage regularly in visits, courses, seminars and port calls.