China Holding Military Exercises Just Hundreds Of Miles From US Base In Europe

China’s military is getting ready to conduct drills near a massive U.S. Army base in Europe this month, according to multiple reports.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will conduct joint military training operations in Belarus in mid-July, Chinese-state media reported on Sunday. The region in Belarus where the PLA is conducting drills sits directly on the border of Poland and is less than 300 miles away from a U.S. Army garrison in Poland, a country hosting nearly 10,000 U.S. troops.

The joint drills will focus on “counter-terrorism operations,” Chinese state media reported. Chinese and Belarusian forces will conduct mixed-team and “hostage rescue” drills.

Belarus fell under sanctions from the West for its support of Russia in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to The Diplomat. China has further embraced several sanctioned nations as a result, including Belarus; Beijing upgraded relations with Belarus to an “all-weather comprehensive partnership” in 2023.

“The training aims to enhance the training levels and coordination capabilities of the participating troops, as well as deepen practical cooperation between the armies of the two countries,” Chinese state media reported. State media outlets are not independent and are widely viewed by the West as the propaganda arm of the relevant country’s government.