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PressTV - Sino-Turkish military drill worries West
US Army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Tamara Parker said on Friday that the Chinese and Turkish air forces carried out a joint exercise from September 20 through October 4 at the Konya air base in Turkey's central Anatolia region, Reuters reported.
It is the first such military exercise involving Beijing and a NATO member country. Parker said that Turkey assured the US beforehand that it would take the "utmost care" to protect sensitive US and NATO technologies.
"To the best of our knowledge, US-made F-16s were not involved in the exercise," Parker added.
According to the report, the Turkish air force flew F-4 Phantom fighters, used by the US during the Vietnam War, and China flew Russian-built SU-27s.
Experts described the exercise as a sign of China's growing influence beyond its borders and Beijing's capability to operate as far away as the Middle East.
US Army spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Tamara Parker said on Friday that the Chinese and Turkish air forces carried out a joint exercise from September 20 through October 4 at the Konya air base in Turkey's central Anatolia region, Reuters reported.
It is the first such military exercise involving Beijing and a NATO member country. Parker said that Turkey assured the US beforehand that it would take the "utmost care" to protect sensitive US and NATO technologies.
"To the best of our knowledge, US-made F-16s were not involved in the exercise," Parker added.
According to the report, the Turkish air force flew F-4 Phantom fighters, used by the US during the Vietnam War, and China flew Russian-built SU-27s.
Experts described the exercise as a sign of China's growing influence beyond its borders and Beijing's capability to operate as far away as the Middle East.