Three of China’s most advanced military aircraft will make their debut at the International Army Games in Russia next week, seen as yet another sign of growing military trust and cooperation between Beijing and Moscow. The move also reflects efforts to improve the Chinese military’s publicity strategy to become more transparent, open-minded, and confident, according to several sources close to the armed forces. The PLA Air Force has dispatched 11 military aircraft, including H-6K bombers , J-10B and J-16 fighter jets, a Y-20 large transport aircraft and a Y-9 tactical transport aircraft, as well as a team of airborne troops to Russia to participate in the International Army Games to be held from August 22 to September 4, Xinhua reported on Friday. The J-10B and J-16 fighter jets, and the Y-20 large transport aircraft will be making their debuts in the competition on August 23, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The event follows last week’s five-day joint military exercise by Chinese and Russian forces in northwestern China, closely watched by the world as a sign of the two countries’ expanding military ties with an eye on their common rival – the United States. Also called the “War Olympics”, this will be the seventh edition of the annual games organised by the Russian defence ministry. More than 280 teams from 42 countries will participate in competitions to be held in 11 countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier. The competition will also provide a good opportunity for China to test its combat capability, as well as enhance exchanges with Russia which has more experience in real combat, Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology institute in Beijing, said. “China has dispatched its main aircraft types, including J-10B and J-16, which have been widely used in the air force this year, replacing the previous types which have become obsolete, to showcase improved combat effectiveness after military reforms ,” Zhou said. “It is also a good chance to test its capabilities with Russia, and enhance real combat effectiveness in military exchanges with Russia, which is more experienced in overseas operations.” It also reflects a shift in China’s military publicity strategy, to one that is more open-minded, confident and transparent, Zhou added. “China was less willing to show its military weaponry and equipment to the outside [world] before the military reforms, but now the strategy has changed,” Zhou said, “The shift is a sign that China is more confident in its technological advances – that we are strong enough, so never come to bully us. It is also in line with the requests of the international community for the PLA to be more transparent.” A military expert close to the PLA said that the debut of the three advanced military aircraft demonstrates the improved combat effectiveness of China’s air force, while Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert, said the move reflects the significant increase in the level of military exchanges and mutual trust between China and Russia. “Unlike other participating countries that will use weaponry and equipment provided by Russia, China has dispatched its own domestically developed aircraft including J-16 fighter jets and the Y-20 large transport aircraft to participate in the competition, which reflects China’s confidence in its technical advances in showing these most advanced equipment,” Song said. “It also shows a high degree of confidence in military exchanges and cooperation between the two sides,” he said. “China and Russia have reached an unprecedented level of mutual trust in their military relations, which is really hard to come by.”