PLA aid to neighbors deepens bonds

By sharing medical expertise and donating supplies, the Chinese People's Liberation Army is standing on the frontlines with their peers from neighboring countries as they battle the coronavirus.

According to the Chinese embassy in Indonesia, medical supplies donated by China's Ministry of National Defense were handed over to the Indonesian Defense Ministry on Tuesday in a ceremony at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

It was the second batch of medical assistance provided by China to Indonesia, after the first batch was donated in late March.

Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said the medical supplies delivered by China's military aircraft showcased the two countries' close relations.

Indonesia is confident of jointly winning the battle against the epidemic in cooperation with China, said Prabowo, adding that he looked forward to the countries' continued cooperation in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Veronika S. Saraswati, head of the China Study Unit at Jakarta-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the donations are significant as Indonesia is in a difficult time in its fight against COVID-19.

"The support (from China) is very meaningful," Saraswati said.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, Saraswati said the mutual assistance between the two countries will help further deepen their bilateral ties.

The aid is just part of the help that the Chinese military has been giving to countries in need. Also on Tuesday, a batch of medical supplies donated by the ministry was handed over to the Philippines.

Valuable spirit

The donation included more than 80,000 items of surgical masks, protective suits and protective goggles, according to the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.

The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, said that in the anti-pandemic cooperation between the two countries, both sides' armed forces have shown a valuable spirit of mutual support and assistance.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he appreciated China's support to facilitate the Philippine military aircraft and navy vessel bringing back the much-needed medical supplies from China.

Lorenzana said he was pleased to see the defense forces of both countries playing an active role in the fight against COVID-19.

Also on Tuesday, a PLA medical expert team left Yangon, Myanmar, after completing its mission. The team had arrived in Myanmar on April 24 with medical supplies donated by China, according to the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.

Despite the scorching heat, the Chinese team conducted extensive communications with Myanmar military medics on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and control of COVID-19.

According to Xinhua, the Chinese military medics also helped set up a laboratory at Myanmar's No 1 Defense Services General Hospital in Mingaladon township in Yangon by providing technical assistance and training.

In Pakistan, after sending a team of military medical experts in April to help the South Asian country, the PLA on May 12 sent a second batch of supplies for epidemic prevention and control at the request of the Pakistani military.

Prime Sarmiento contributed to the report.