(DAWN)- BEIJING: China has staged military exercises in Djibouti after opening its first overseas military base there last month, official media said.
State television CCTV showed armoured vehicles moving on a desert track, groups of soldiers firing automatic weapons and cannon pointing towards the horizon.
Dozens of soldiers have been deployed in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) “to reinforce their hardiness in combat and their mastery of military techniques”, the report said.
“This is the first time that officers and soldiers stationed in Djibouti have left their camp to conduct live-fire exercises,” Liang Yang, the base commander, told the broadcaster.
It was unclear when the drills took place. China opened its base in Djibouti in early August.
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