"China-Myanmar 'Peace Train-2026' Will Conduct Typhoon Rescue Drills"

[Global Times Report, Reporter Liang Rui] The China-Laos "Peace Train-2026" humanitarian medical rescue joint exercise and medical service activities officially commenced on the 7th in Vientiane, Laos. The head of the Chinese guiding coordination team stated during his speech that since 2017, the armed forces of China and Laos have held this series of joint exercises multiple times. What new features does this joint exercise have, and what subjects will both sides practice? In this regard, a reporter from the Global Times interviewed military experts.

He Zhen, the chief director of the Chinese directing team for the joint exercise, introduced that this joint exercise is set against the backdrop of international humanitarian medical rescue in the face of super typhoon disasters, exploring cross-border joint medical rescue operational models, and further enhancing the two militaries' capabilities for coordinated medical support and emergency response. This joint exercise has established a three-level command and a four-level rescue system, relying on medical trains, field medical equipment, unmanned intelligent equipment, etc., to organize mixed training, full-process joint drills, and live exercises, focusing on practical subjects such as disaster site search and rescue, mass casualty treatment, and psychological stress intervention.

When mentioning the Chinese professional forces providing medical and health services to friendly countries and regions, one cannot help but think of the Chinese Navy's hospital ship "Peace Ark." In fact, the Chinese military also has a "Peace Train" medical team that conducts cross-border medical service activities on land. According to reports, in July 2017, this medical team first went abroad to conduct medical service activities in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and in the northern province of Luang Namtha. Subsequently, in 2018 and 2019, the "Peace Train" medical team continued to bring high-quality medical services to the military and civilians of Laos. In late July 2022, the China-Laos "Peace Train-2022" humanitarian medical rescue joint exercise and medical service activities were held in Phonhong, Laos. This was the first time the Chinese military's medical train was deployed overseas, and it was also the first practice of connecting the medical train with secondary hospitals and integrating medical treatment with epidemic prevention and control.

According to reports, this year, the Chinese side's 150-member medical support team for the "Peace Train-2026" joint exercise is primarily composed of personnel from the Army Medical University, along with forces from the Air Force and Joint Logistics Support Force. After the exercise, the medical team will also go to four locations: Vientiane City, Uthong Phong County in Savannakhet Province, Pakse City in Champasak Province, and Samakhixay County in Attapeu Province.

Military expert Zhang Junsha stated in an interview with a Global Times reporter on the 8th that the super typhoon rescue drill is the core background and key content of this joint exercise, featuring several highlights. First, the exercise's background is close to real combat, especially since this region frequently encounters typhoon disasters. Setting the main subjects and simulating exercise scenarios based on super typhoon disaster rescue can effectively enhance the two militaries' joint medical rescue capabilities in response to major natural disasters. Second, the command and rescue system for this exercise has been innovated, establishing a three-level command and a four-level rescue system. Through a systematic and modular command and rescue structure, the operational model for cross-border joint medical rescue has been optimized, improving command coordination and emergency response efficiency in complex disaster scenarios. Third, the equipment and means are diverse. By fully relying on advanced equipment such as medical trains, field medical equipment, and unmanned intelligent equipment, mixed training and full-process joint drills have been organized, achieving the integration of traditional medical support with new intelligent rescue means, enhancing the intelligence and practical level of rescue operations. Fourth, the joint exercise model emphasizes cross-border and mixed training. The Chinese and Laotian forces conducted mixed training and full-process joint drills, which can further explore the operational model for cross-border joint medical rescue and effectively test and enhance the two militaries' coordinated medical support capabilities.