Officers from Hong Kong’s PLA garrison take part in first international drill
The unprecedented exercise in Malaysia is called a ‘worrying’ change of focus by one analyst, but others see no reason for alarm
In an unprecedented move, Beijing has announced that the Chinese army’s garrison in Hong Kong is taking part in a drill with its Malaysian counterparts.
China-watchers and military experts were divided over what the Ministry of National Defence’s revelation means, with one of them describing it as “a worrying signal” that Beijing could change its Hong Kong-related policies according to its need, while others said the local garrison’s participation was nothing to worry about.
In recent years the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army’s drills have been regarded by commentators as Beijing’s warnings against pro-independence and anti-mainland sentiments in the city. In July it allowed the media to witness a full-scale military exercise at the Castle Peak Range, days after China’s legislature passed a sweeping and controversial national security law that stoked fears of greater limits on citizens’ freedoms.
In a press release issued last Friday, the defence ministry revealed that 300 military officers from China and Malaysia would take part in a joint military exercise in Malaysia from Tuesday to Friday.
Among them would be 195 Chinese representatives from the Central Military Commission, Southern Theatre Command, and the Hong Kong garrison. The theme of the exercise was “joint operation of humanitarian rescue”, and the drill was aimed at strengthening the two countries’ capability in maintaining regional safety and stability, the release said.
The state-owned Global Times confirmed on Monday that this was the first announcement about the Hong Kong garrison’s participation in an international drill.