China concludes peacekeeping drills in Queshan

China on Wednesday concluded a United Nations peacekeeping drill in central Queshan County, joined by troops from Mongolia, Pakistan and Thailand.

Around 1,000 troops participated in a 10-day field exercise at the Queshan peacekeeping operation training base, China's military said.

Drills included armed escorts, security patrols, construction of temporary bases, civilian protection and counter-terrorism operations.

Troops used only Chinese weapons, equipment and facilities during the exercises that were designed based on real case scenarios.

A counter-terrorism drill illustrated a terrorist vehicle driving towards a UN base with explosives while attackers shot at peacekeepers and threw Molotov cocktails.

The drill was based on an incident where a Chinese peacekeeping base in Mali came under attack.

Senior peacekeeping official, Senior Colonel Lu Jianxin on Tuesday said the drill was the first time China has hosted a multinational peacekeeping field training exercise, and is aimed at promoting coordination between UN peacekeeping troops among neighboring countries.

The exercise also serves to mark the People's Republic of China's 50th anniversary of being recognized by the United Nations as the sole representative of the country, Lu said, referring to the UN decision to expel Taiwan.

The drills came at a time of prolonged tensions with India over disputed borders and uncertainty over Afghanistan's security after US and foreign forces withdrew from the country in August.

Pakistan is a longtime ally with China, while China in recent years has been courting Thailand through investment and military cooperation.