Motorized troops from the military commands of Lanzhou passes a bridge on Tuesday. The exercise "Stride-2009" participated by one army division from each of the military commands of Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou begins. The exercise will undergo a series of live-fire drills lasting for two months. It is the PLA's largest-ever tactical military exercise, involving the deployment of about 50,000 heavily-armored troops over thousands of miles to test the PLA's long-distance mobility.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Motorized troops from the military commands of Lanzhou passes a bridge on Tuesday. The exercise "Stride-2009" participated by one army division from each of the military commands of Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou begins. The exercise will undergo a series of live-fire drills lasting for two months.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

PLA kicks off largest long-range tactical military exercise

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday launched its largest-ever tactical military exercise, involving the deployment of about 50,000 heavily-armored troops over thousands of miles to test the PLA's long-distance mobility.

According to the PLA General Staff Headquarters, in charge of organizing the exercise "Stride-2009," one army division from each of the military commands of Shenyang, Lanzhou, Jinan and Guangzhou, will participate in a series of live-fire drills lasting for two months. Full story