China-Thailand joint army training unfolds counter-terrorism drills

The China-Thailand "Commando 2024" joint army training is currently underway in Kunming City in southwest China's Yunnan Province, featuring a series of counter-terrorism drills aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two nations' armies and bolstering regional stability.

During the training, which is scheduled for Oct 15 to 25, participants are set to engage in operational training on reconnaissance equipment, manned and unmanned coordinated combat exercises and other subjects.

On Saturday, the focus was placed on a scenario involving a hostage situation at a train station. Mixed teams from both countries launched a coordinated assault on the train compartments, successfully neutralizing threats and verifying the identities of hostages before their rescue.

"We conducted training on railway station hijacking and anti-hijacking. During the training, we studied new tactics together with our Thai counterparts. Through full discussion, the two sides had detailed and in-depth exchanges on the search skills in narrow confined spaces such as trains and relevant capture and search methods. We worked out actionable tactics for every detail of the operation. During the real-time drills, our team executed the mission independently and cohesively," said Luo Shunqi, a Chinese team member.

Participants also engaged in tactical clearing operations in simulated urban environments with varying structural layouts. Commanders from both nations analyzed and developed plans, after which mixed teams conducted coordinated searches and assaults, effectively neutralizing targets and securing evidence within the simulated buildings.

"We leveraged the comprehensive facilities at the training center to conduct various typical counter-terrorism operations such as anti-hijacking at railway stations and simulated block clearance, focusing on key elements such as the deployment of assault troops, task organization, and operational execution. Throughout the training, commanders from both sides conducted thorough analyses, while team members actively collaborated, sharing and integrating each other's counter-terrorism experiences and insights," said Jin Jianjie, another Chinese member.

China-Thailand joint army training unfolds counter-terrorism drills

A palm-sized electric vehicle (EV) charger and a customized new energy garbage truck are among the latest cutting-edge products hogging the limelight at the 136th Canton Fair, which concluded its first phase on Saturday in south China's Guangzhou City.

The portable EV charger, developed by U.S. industrial conglomerate Honeywell and applicable to most types of EVs, turned a lot of heads at the event, also known as the China Import and Export Fair.

It can be used even at high-altitude areas and be connected to cell phones.

The charger is now available for purchase on online shopping platforms in the run-up to China's annual "Double 11", or Singles' Day, shopping festival which falls on Nov. 11.

"This is our latest product, and it sells at only 599 yuan during the 'Double 11.' We have raised the portable charger's rate of power to 3.5 kilowatts, and it can fully charge a car in around 10 hours. We are quite surprised to see so many more guests this year, especially those from South America and Eastern Europe, who are interested in new energy chargers. We expect a significant increase of orders this year," said Zhang Shaozhi, an exhibitor at Honeywell's exhibition booth.

Meanwhile, Skyworth, known as an electric appliance producer, is exhibiting its new garbage truck at the new energy vehicle area.

The truck, with a load capacity of 3.2 tonnes, features a driving cab which can be assembled by drivers themselves.

Equipped with a lighter vehicle chassis and noise absorption devices, the truck caters to the needs of environmental protection in South and Central Asian countries.

"The chassis is very light, so it can carry 600 kilograms more than a vehicle of the same class," said an exhibitor at Skyworth's exhibition booth.

The import exhibition at the Phase 1 of the Canton Fair has attracted 213 participating enterprises from 28 countries and regions. So far, the Phase 1 has seen more than 200 new product launch events online and offline.

The 136th Canton Fair opened on Oct. 15 and will run through Nov. 4 in three phases, with the second phase to be held between Oct. 23 and 27, and the third between Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, respectively.

Palm-sized EV charger, customized garbage truck shine at Canton Fair