The China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army training showcased the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern military operations, particularly in urban counter-terrorism scenarios. A standout feature of this year's drill was the deployment of a wide range of unmanned intelligent equipment, reflecting the growing role of technology in combat. Bomb-disposal robots were highlighted during the clearing and evacuation phases, demonstrating capabilities such as advanced mechanical design, intelligent sensing, efficient algorithms and the ability to navigate complex and hazardous environments. The training also featured other innovative unmanned systems, including wall-climbing robots, integrated reconnaissance-and-strike vehicles and wall-breaching drones. These systems excelled in reconnaissance and assault scenarios, earning praise from participants for their ability to boost mission efficiency and precision. "By integrating manned and unmanned systems in the actual combats, we achieved a '1+1>2' effect. For instance, during vertical assaults, wall-breaching drones shattered windows in advance, allowing assault teams to enter buildings more quickly and conveniently," said Kou Fangbo, a Chinese soldier participating in the exercise. From the setup of environments such as high-rises, urban districts and jungles to the execution of tactics and combat techniques, every detail and training module in this joint counter-terrorism operation in urban areas exercise exuded a strong sense of practicality. Additionally, various potential counter-terrorism scenarios, including reconnaissance, assault, rescue and clearing missions, were designed to repeatedly challenge both teams. This year marks the sixth joint army training between the two countries, with integration between the two sides continuing to deepen. Beyond mixed team formations, the command center personnel were also fused, ensuring participation from both sides in every stage.
"Each joint command operation by our commanders and every training session by our members is a process of mutual understanding, deeper connections, and enhanced integration. Only through the continuous exchange of ideas and collaboration can we improve the joint counter-terrorism capabilities of both armies," said Chen Tao, a Chinese military officer of the drill.
The exercise, an established cooperation project between the two sides, aims to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two armies and strengthen their capabilities in joint counter-terrorism operations.
Unmanned systems integrate into drills of China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation 2024
China has seen growth in the export of second-hand cars so far this year, thanks to the government's rollout of vehicle trade-in programs which also significantly boosted car consumption in the country, according to industry insiders.
Since the beginning of this year, the second-hand car market in China has picked up significantly, with the transaction volume achieving double growth both year-on-year and month-on-month. It was reported that in addition to the resale of a majority of used cars at the domestic market, some of the replaced used cars are going on the international market.
According to the latest official data released by China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) , China's used car exports reached 270,000 units in the whole of 2023, and the country's used car exports are expected to hit the 400,000-unit mark in 2024.
China officially kicked off the exports of second-hand cars in May 2019, with Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Guangdong among the first batch of ten cities allowed to conduct such trade.
Since then, China's second-hand car exports have experienced fast growth, with the export volume jumping from the initial 3,036 units in 2019 to 69,000 units in 2022.
Customers and purchasers from other parts of the world are now frequent visitors to the biggest second-hand vehicle market in Guangzhou City, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, and they have shown particular interest in the country's new energy vehicles. With second-hand vehicle trade-in programs rolled out one after another across China, car dealers say their used vehicle purchase sources have been diversified.
So far, China's used car export has shifted from the operation of pilot projects in designated cities to the lift of all restrictions on used car export, and all regions are seeing rapid growth in used car exports. In the first half of this year, east China's affluent Jiangsu Province exported over 3,500 second-hand cars, with the total export value reaching about 80 million U.S. dollars. Tianjin, a large city in north China, exported about four billion yuan (552.3 million U.S. dollars) worth of second-hand cars in the six-month period, up 2.3 times year over year. In the first three quarters, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China exported 6,251 second-hand vehicles, with the export value surpassing 100 million U.S. dollars.
"The second-hand car market is now a shining point and its export volume is growing year by year. China is exporting second-hand cars to over 160 countries and regions. The second-hand car brands that China are exporting are gradually establishing brand images on international second-hand car markets," said Wang Du, vice president of CADA.
China sees growth in export of second-hand cars
