Belarus Hosts China for Counterterror Training in NATO’s Backyard

Monday, June 8, 2024: This was the official kick-off date of the joint counterterror training, which is being held in west Belarus near the city of Brest, approximately three miles from the Polish border. While it is known that this joint training will last 11 days, it remains unclear what precisely this training will entail.

What is clear, however, is the vivid display of Chinese strategic capabilities, taking Chinese influence and a sample of their military power right onto the doorstep of NATO territory. The key piece of equipment that makes all this possible for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is the Y-20 strategic lift aircraft. While details remain murky about how many were used for this mission, these aircraft were instrumental in transporting the Chinese military personnel and all their equipment to Belarus for training.

MOre Chinese Soldiers
Photo Credit: Belarusian Military News Agency

About The Y-20

The Y-20 is the largest heavy-lift aircraft in the PLAAF inventory and the largest cargo aircraft currently being produced globally. This is because the U.S. Air Force halted the production of the C-17 in late 2015.

Photo Credit: Ukrayinska Pravda

Like the larger C-17, the Y-20 is capable of carrying a wide array of military vehicles including the Type-99 heavy tank, the heaviest of this is the 55-ton variety. In addition to vehicles, the Y-20 is capable of conducting airborne operations, medical evacuation missions, airdrops and the transportation of conventional soldiers.

 

Y-20 Specifications
Wingspan 164 ft. (50 m)
Height 49.2 ft.  (15 m)
Length 154.2 ft.  (47 m)
Ceiling 42,651 ft. (13,000 m)
Empty Weight 220,462 lbs.  (100,000 kg)
Maximum takeoff weight 489,426 lbs.  (222,000 kg)
Powerplant 4 × turbojets, Soloviev D-30KP-2 delivering 13,608 kgp
Statistics source: https://www.globalmilitary.net/aircrafts/y20/

 

The Counterterror Training is Merely Window Dressing

Certain military exercises are difficult to argue with diplomatically. These include humanitarian aid and disaster relief training, medical training, and counter-terror training. These types of training raise a few eyebrows, but any possible worries can be easily brushed aside. The reason is that the purpose behind these types of training exercises is not outwardly threatening, and they are designed with civilian safety and health in mind.

The Deeper Meaning Behind the China/Belarus Training

As a net benefit for China, this training will further integrate training and operating procedures between itself and Belarus. Additionally, this training will also set established protocols in place for future deployments of Chinese military personnel. This will allow China to move personnel and equipment to Eastern Europe more quickly and easily. And herein lies the true motive for the training.