The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted a war exercise at a north China training base to test its high-technology combat capabilities.

More than 20,000 personnel participated in the exercise code-named "North Sword -- 0607(S)", organized by the PLA Beijing Area Command.

It was the first joint exercise involving troops from a PLA area command, the Air Force, the Second Artillery, and the Chinese People's Armed Police, according to military sources.

A thousand tanks, armored vehicles and troop carriers were involved in "fierce battles" on the site covering 1,000 square kilometers.

Thirty-five experts from the National University of Defense were on hand to monitor and assess procedures, according to the department directing the exercise.

The "Red Army" division was armed with information equipment and conducted a series of drills to test long-distance maneuverability under complicated conditions, while under assault from "Blue Army" troops, using "electromagnetic" equipment.

The sources gave no dates or timescale for the drill.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2006)