The Center-2026 strategic military exercises concluded in west-central Russia's Chelyabinsk on Friday, with the participating Chinese troops saying that they honed their combat capabilities in the multinational joint drill.
According to the Russian President's official website, the exercises involved over 47,000 personnel conducting missions across 11 training grounds and the Caspian Sea, and were held in coordination with the Interaction-2026 exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Eight countries, namely Russia, China, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan, sent military contingents to participate in this strategic exercises which started on September 28.
The Chinese team was formed by personnel selected from the Central Theater Command headquarters, the 82nd Group Army of the Central Theater Command land force, and a subordinate synthetic brigade.
During this exercises, the participating forces formed a joint operational group to conduct combined land-air operations within the same exercise scenario.
This fully demonstrated the outstanding military proficiency and tenacious fighting spirit of the participating officers and soldiers, as well as the ability of the multiple participating nations to maintain regional peace and stability.
Over the past few days, the participating forces from the eight countries successively completed adaptive training in long-range force projection, joint operational planning and live-fire drills.
Earlier Friday, the exercise entered its final phase: a full-scale joint live-fire drill involving all elements of land and air forces.
As the drill officially began, air and ground firepower launched long-range strikes against the "enemy" first, while swarms of drones quickly took to the skies to conduct multiple waves of close-range aerial reconnaissance on the "enemy's" forward positions, providing precise target information to ground combat units.
Subsequently, a second round of strikes was launched against the "enemy" by tactical drones, armed helicopters and unmanned ground vehicles, among others.
At the same time, engineer units cleared multiple corridors along the front lines, creating favorable conditions for subsequent offensive echelons.
Under the cover of air and ground fire, rapid maneuver units and armored combat units formed multiple ground offensive echelons, adopting a strategy of small groups advancing on multiple fronts to launch waves of fire assaults against the enemy's defensive positions.
Officers with the participating Chinese troops said the drill helped enhance the troops' combat capacities amid a complex and evolving environment of battlefield.
"The most notable aspect of the entire operation was the extensive use of unmanned systems, which made the battlefield situation more complex, and which obliged us to flexibly apply various new tactics and combat methods. Our troops received substantial and hands-on training through dealing with these challenges," said Zhou Zexin, an officer with the Chinese troops participating in the exercises.
"In terms of force composition, we encompassed a wide range of capabilities, including reconnaissance and intelligence, joint command, firepower strikes, information support and logistical support. Throughout the exercise, we engaged in in-depth exchanges with multiple foreign forces, adhered to combat-oriented training, and tested and enhanced our troops' ability to carry out combat missions based on the most complex environments and most typical scenarios," said Yue Yubao, another officer with the participating Chinese troops.
Center-2026 strategic military exercises ends in Russia's Chelyabinsk
The spirit of the Long March has been passed down to young generations over the past 90 years, inspiring people to keep their faith, brave setback and put the people first.
The Long March was carried out by the Red Army, which was led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), and mainly made up of soldiers from peasants' and workers' families during the Chinese revolution.
Ninety-two years ago, the Red Army crossed the mountains and rivers of southwest China's Guizhou Province in search of a way forward.
Between 1934 and 1936, the army trekked up to 12,500 kilometers to break through the Kuomintang Party siege, a journey later known as the Long March.
The year 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory.
Today, a young generation has grown up, carrying forward the spirit of the Long March.
Dong embroidery heritage bearer Lu Yongjiang has undergone five corrective hand surgeries but continues to preserve the traditional craft.
"This was made by my mother, and I've kept it ever since. I think this craft is truly beautiful. I wanted to make it my lifelong career. I've had five corrective surgeries on my hand. When I was learning embroidery, everyone had already written me off. They thought I would never be able to learn it. I couldn't pull the thread with this hand, so I used my teeth to hold it. Then I used my other hand to help pull it through. As long as I can still stand, I won't give up on this craft," Lu said.
"A single embroidery needle may be small, but thousands of needles can stitch a magnificent landscape. When I think about the work I'm doing today, I'm not afraid. I may have a disability, but compared with the hardships the Red Army soldiers went through, I feel very fortunate today," she continued.
Dong-language guide Lu Xianying tells the history of the Long March through Dong songs.
"In Dong communities, many older people don't understand Mandarin. So when I explain this history, I have created several Dong songs based on the history of the Long March. We should approach the history of the Long March with respect. When we tell its story, we have to base it on facts and not distort or alter it. What I most want to do is to bring red culture and Dong culture together, so that both can be passed on," said Lu Xianying, a Dong-language guide of Liping Meeting Memorial Hall.
Zhou Wei, a guide at the Houchang Meeting Memorial Hall, puts it another way.
"I left teaching to become a guide telling the history of the Long March. After learning about this history, I was deeply moved and inspired by the journey of the Red Army. The Red Army soldiers ate tree bark and grass roots back then, so that future generations would never have to do the same. Every generation has its own Long March, and every generation has its own path to walk," said Zhou Wei, deputy director of Houchang Meeting Memorial Hall.
Other young people are working at the grassroots and dealing with challenges of their own. Ninety years later, the mountains and rivers remain, but every generation has its own path to walk.
"More than 90 years ago, when the Red Army crossed the Wujiang River, the current was extremely fast. At the time, the Red Army crossed the river at night to avoid enemy pursuit. They used what was known as the 'Red Army water horse,' which was a type of bamboo raft used to cross the river. This story is known as the 'Red Army water horse'. We tell this story to everyone who comes here to learn about the history," said Wang Yinyin, an official of Jiangjiehe Town Government.
"It was really a matter of chance that I joined the Western China Volunteer Program and was assigned to Jiangjiehe, a village known for the Red Army's crossing of the Wujiang River. I mainly work on rural revitalization, shooting videos and editing social media posts to share stories from Jiangjiehe," said Yu Yaojia, a volunteer of the 2026 Western China Volunteer Program.
"I think the biggest mountain I have to cross is gaining experience at the grassroots level, then using it to better serve people on a bigger platform," said Tian Yintan, an official of Jiangjiehe Town Government.
Long March spirit passes down to young generations
