Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

China's army to train foreign officers



Beijing, China, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- China's drive to professionalize its military moved forward Friday with state-run media announcing the creation of the Defense Affairs Institute.

According to state-run Xinhua, the Chinese People's Liberation Army University of National Defense established a special unit, the Defense Affairs Institute, to offer training to upper echelon military officers and civilians from foreign countries.

Analysts view the move as an opportunity for the PLA to promote long-term influence with foreign military establishments via exchanges and advanced training.

Dean of the PLA National Defense University General Zhu Chenghu was quoted as saying the training of foreign officers was a "historic leap forward" and promised the new institute would be in accordance with international practice and methodologies.

The PLA started offering training and arms to foreigners in the 1950s under Mao Zedong. During the Cold War, thousands of communist recruits from Africa, Asia, and South America learned guerilla warfare tactics and Maoist ideology.

Xinhua said the new institute begins classes on Aug. 16 with the enrollment of 970 senior military officers from 40 different countries.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040806-071733-4797r.htm