Global Times reported on Aug. 20 that the PLA Air Force is engaged in training exercises near simultaneously with Belarus, Egypt and Thailand. Not mentioned but notable is that two of the three countries–Egypt and Thailand–have close military ties with the US. Elbridge Colby can’t be too happy about that, especially after waving his big stick around in Manila last week.
The three exercises are as follows:
Swift Eagle 2026 airborne joint training exercises opened at a PLA Air Force training center in China on Aug. 12. It entered its comprehensive exercise phase on Aug. 19. Earlier, participating troops from both sides had completed basic training and coordinated refinement at the training center, laying a solid foundation for the exercise upgrade, said the PLA Air Force.
The next phase will feature full-element comprehensive drills in a combat-realistic setting, focusing on honing joint command and coordinated operational capabilities, deepening practical military cooperation, and jointly enhancing the ability to conduct joint counter-terrorism missions, said the PLA Air Force.